The Willow School New Orleans

Class of 2021 alum Jude Mikulencak is currently a frontrunner on season 22 of Project Runway after winning the main design challenge in Episode 4 ("Catwalk on the Wild Side"). Twelve contestants remain in the competition following early eliminations from the starting cast of 22. The next episode airs on Thursday. Jude is a Brooklyn-based designer whose creative work is rooted in classic tailoring. For the Willow arts community, Mikulencak's  appearance on Project Runway is a reminder of what can grow from a strong K–12 creative foundation. The journey from New Orleans classrooms to a national design platform reflects the kind of artistic possibility we hope all students can imagine for themselves.  Photo courtesy of nola.com