SARATOGA SPRINGS – The Saratoga Springs High School Hall of Distinction inducted David Hyde Pierce and Pia Carusone for their extraordinary professional accomplishments at the 2015 Academic Awards and Hall of Distinction Recognition Night on Wednesday, May 20.
The Hall of Distinction was established to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of outstanding graduates of Saratoga Springs High School who have made exceptional contributions and excelled in their chosen fields.
Current students received awards for their academic achievements from the Rotary, including scholarships and a variety of department awards.
Emmy, Tony, and Screen Actors Guild Award winner David Hyde Pierce is the son of George and Laura Pierce and, along with his brother Tom and sisters Nancy and Barbara, he grew up in Saratoga Springs. He graduated from Saratoga High School in 1977, attended college at Yale University, and then moved to New York City, where he made his professional and Broadway debut in 1982 in Christopher Durang's "Beyond Therapy.”
He went on to work extensively on and off-Broadway, in regional theatre, television and film. He is perhaps best known for his role on TV's iconic comedy, "Frasier." He was also awarded the Isabelle Stevenson honorary Tony Award in 2010 for his work with the Alzheimer's Association.
Pia Carusone heads up The Campaign Group’s Washington, D.C. office. After years of winning tough campaigns, Pia served as Chief of Staff to U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords and was recognized on the floor of Congress for her leadership after the Tucson shooting.
Carusone is a former Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security and the first Executive Director of Giffords' gun violence prevention organization Americans for Responsible Solutions. She has given hundreds of TV, radio and print interviews. She was recently named one of Politico’s “50 Politicos to Watch." She’s also the co-founder of a craft vodka and bourbon distillery called Republic Restoratives Distillery.
