For weeks, the halls of EHS carried a quiet hum, not from classroom speakers, but from a record player spinning its way into national attention.

In September, Edison High’s National Art Honor Society’s advisor, Ms. Kelley Gavor, introduced her students to the Crosley Custom Cruiser Competition, a nationwide contest challenging schools across the country to reimagine a classic record player. EHS’s layered silhouettes, flowing lines, and vibrant colors bring themes of connection and unity to life in their own rendition of the Cruiser, winning the national competition. Their victory showcases that not only do EHS students exemplify dedication and teamwork within the school (through projects like Echoes of Respect), but also embody creativity and talent on a national scale. As part of this nationwide win, each student received a customizable Crosley record player, and the team was awarded $2,500 for future creative projects.

“From the moment I signed them up, I believed in them,” said Gavor. “This contest showed them that art is collaborative, that they’re not alone, and their voices matter.”

Reflective of diversity at Edison High and of music around the world, the exterior of the Cruiser is divided into eight sections. Each side represents a different music genre with its own colors, symbols, and instruments, which blend together to create a visual representation of unity. Inside, a multi-genre band performs under multicolored lights, celebrating our community.

“Seeing genres overlap felt like a representation of how we overlapped each other during the painting process,” said Gabbi Callueng ‘26, a member of EHS’s Cruiser team.

The team documented every stage of the process, posting videos on Instagram while using trending sounds and hashtags to share their work with a wider audience. The students’ efforts not only captured the judges’ attention, but were appreciated by voters all over the country.

From the original concept to the final creation, the project exemplified Eagle spirit. Students collaborated seamlessly, taking ownership of every design element while drawing inspiration from their shared creativity. Even though the artists started a week before the deadline, the team produced an original creation of art and music that stood out among hundreds of entries.

“Social media, campaigns, everything was a good exposure for all of them that you don’t have to be a cliche solo artist,” said Gavor. The unified nature of the project and the confidence the students gained boosted their collective morale, showing that Edison High can shine on a national stage when its students work together.

For the students, the recognition was thrilling.

“The whole United States knows us right now, knows Edison High School, and it feels so relieving and exciting,” said Selena Luong ‘26, president of the National Art Honor Society.

“This [team] was a whole big Eagle family,” said Gavor, a reminder that behind every win is a community that lifts each other up.