Hudson Colletti

Grade: 12

Started with Sewickley Academy in: Grade 11

Future plans: Study business, math, or economics in college – hopefully at Vanderbilt.

Role model: “My parents. They give 100% in everything they do and also really care about everyone they encounter. I admire that.”

Favorite thing about Sewickley Academy: “I love the community and especially all of my friends. I also feel like the school is set up to truly support the students in and outside of the classroom.”

Spotlight: Just prior to the start of the pandemic, Hudson got involved in purchasing and reselling sneakers via Instagram and Snapchat. He started by buying a few pairs, cleaning them with household products, and when he was successful in selling them, he kept going. He has now sold hundreds of pairs along with clothing and accessories primarily through @lacedinpgh on Instagram as well as through a few area stores. Regarding shoes these days he says, “I’m more of a collector now. I love them so much I can’t get rid of them. I probably have 50-60 pairs at home.” Hudson also recently completed an internship with Reza Footwear. After seeing the company on Techstars.com, he reached out to the CEO and was offered the internship during which he participated in a sneaker launch that drew 80,000 applicants for only 5,000 available pairs of shoes. On a side note, Hudson is responsible for Free the Music, an initiative to make gently used, artistically painted pianos available for public enjoyment. Several pianos are located across the community including in the gazebo at the intersection of Beaver and Broad. See more about Hudson’s initiatives on LinkedIn.