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Dr. Harriton Raises $70K as Julia Paulat Makes History as First Female Champion

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Dr. Harriton Raises $70K as Julia Paulat Makes History as First Female Champion
Collage celebrating Harriton High School’s 2026 “Dr. Harriton: Greatest Hits” event. The left side features three photos of large groups of students posing on stage under colorful lighting during the show and finale. The right side shows the event winner smiling and making a rock-and-roll hand gesture while wearing a stylized crown illustration. Below her is a graphic of a cassette tape labeled “Dr. Harriton – Track 9” with the text “2026’s Greatest Hits.”

Harriton High School’s auditorium was filled with energy, music and community spirit as students took the stage for the 19th Annual Dr. Harriton talent competition—an evening that raised $70,000 for charity and saw senior Julia Paulat make history as the first female champion in the event’s 19-year run!

This year’s show, themed “Greatest Hits,” featured a collection of student performers representing a wide range of musical genres—from classical and opera to hip-hop, disco and metal. Months of preparation, rehearsals and collaboration culminated in an unforgettable evening that entertained the audience while raising funds for a trio of charitable causes.

At the end of the night, Julia Paulat, representing the rock genre, was crowned this year’s Dr. Harriton champion. In doing so, she made history as the first female winner in the competition’s 19-year history. Her performance and powerful vocals ultimately earned her the title during an evening filled with standout acts and enthusiastic support from the Harriton community.

But the event celebrates far more than a single winner. Each contestant contributed their creativity, dedication and stage presence to help make the production a success.

The 2026 contestants included: Daniel Barajas-Hu (Hip-Hop), Jake Millrood (Pop), Thomas Wolfington (Country), Noah Posner (Classical), Isaac Gelhaus (Opera), Jordan Biran (Musical Theater), Max Wasserman (Metal), Sophia Famador (Disco), Rodrigo Lazo (Latin) and Julia Paulat (Rock).

Together, the students brought the theme of “Greatest Hits” to life through diverse musical styles and energetic performances that kept the audience cheering throughout the evening.

Supporting Meaningful Causes

Funds raised during the event will benefit three nonprofit organizations that make a difference both locally and beyond.

  • The Lower Merion Township Scholarship Fund (LMTSF) provides need-based scholarships to graduating seniors from Harriton and Lower Merion High Schools. Since its founding in 1964, the organization has awarded more than 4,000 scholarships totaling over $3 million to help students pursue higher education.
  • Another beneficiary is Jerseys4Kids, a nonprofit created by a member of the Harriton community that supports children battling cancer by providing them with autographed jerseys from their favorite athletes and teams while also raising funds for research into rare pediatric cancers.
  • The third organization, Cradles to Crayons, works to ensure children living in homeless or low-income situations have access to essential items such as clothing, school supplies and other basic necessities.

A Community Effort

While the student performers are the stars of the show, the success of Dr. Harriton is made possible by the efforts of countless students, staff and volunteers who work behind the scenes.

The production was directed by Charlotte Ufberg, with Tor Labovskaya serving as producer and overseeing sound and lighting. Students also took on key production roles, including filming and editing the introduction video, managing backstage audio, operating lighting and running the event’s livestream.

Harriton staff and administrators also supported the event, including staff sponsor Mr. DiPaul, members of the Harriton administrative team and the event’s panel of judges. The Harriton custodial staff—especially Mrs. Stumpo—also played an important role in preparing the venue for the performance.

A Night to Remember — and a Tradition that Continues

Now in its 19th year, Dr. Harriton has become a cherished tradition at Harriton High School—one that brings students, staff, families and community members together for a night of entertainment with a purpose. Each year, the event highlights student talent while reinforcing a shared commitment to giving back.

With another unforgettable show in the books—and more than $70,000 raised for charity—this year’s Dr. Harriton demonstrated once again how creativity, collaboration and community spirit can come together to make a real difference.

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Contestants and their partners perform a dance on stage. i
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Contestants and their partners perform a dance on stage.
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The contestants and their partners perform a group dance on stage
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Julia Paulat performs with her band
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Image of Daniel Barajas-Hu

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