WESTPORT — Two Staples High School seniors, both highly accomplished academically and gifted in a range of outside activities, have been named the valedictorian and salutatorian of the Class of 2025.

Abe Lobsenz, the valedictorian, and Mattie Guadarrama, salutatorian — the top students in their class — both will address the school’s 151st commencement ceremony in June.

Following is a profile of the honorees provided Wednesday by school district officials.

Abe Lobsenz, academic and athletic powerhouse

Lobsenz, who attended Long Lots Elementary and Bedford Middle schools, besides his academic achievements in and outside the classroom, is also a state record-holding competitive power lifter.

He captained the Staples’ math team through the regional meet, and is also a member of the Connecticut state math team. The team traveled to Pennsylvania State University’s basketball arena, where questions were posed on the center court Jumbotron. “There is never wasted time in math,” says Lobsenz. “You’re always problem-solving.” 

He also serves as an editor for the Staples STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Journal.

His academic interests are broad and deep. Among his favorite classes: Advanced Placement Spanish with Priscilla Wentworth (“a fun environment, and a little more difficult than other classes”) and Rhetoric and Persuasion with Alexandra McHale (“my heart never pounded so fast as when I had to give a speech”).

Math instructor Anthony Forgette made a great impact on Lobsenz. “He was one of the first math teachers who encouraged me to explore on my own,” the valedictorian says. “I went down a rabbit hole, proving a theorem I think is original.” The result: a 12-page published paper.

One of Lobsenz’s “biggest supporters” is Suzanne Kammerman, whose AP government “We the People” class was also a favorite.

Being valedictorian was never Lobsenz’s goal. He waited until junior year to take his first Advanced Placement course. “By some people’s standards, that’s slacking,” he says. “But I wanted to get used to what Staples is about.” 

He chose his courses carefully, based primarily on his interests.

His advice to younger students: “Take time to adjust. Don’t feel like you have to take a lot of honors classes, especially early. Do the extracurriculars you really want to do. And give yourself time for balance, and to enjoy what you’re doing. 

Lobsenz’s interest in power lifting began as a “small, weak” freshman. At the gym with friends, he learned technique and grew stronger. He and his father built a gym in their basement.

After working out up to six days a week, he set state records in his 145-pound weight class in squat (340 pounds), bench press (230 pounds) and dead lift (430 pounds). Those lifts qualified him for national competition.

“The gym is a great place to express yourself physically,” Lobsenz says. “It’s a good feeling to push the limits of what your body can do. The endorphin payoff is satisfying too. And a big part is confidence building, which is important for everything you do.”

When he’s not pursuing academic projects or in the gym, Lobsenz can be found on his bike riding around Westport. 

He is uncertain of his post-college plans. A top choice is the University of California-Santa Barbara. It has a small, flexible program, without prerequisites, but with the opportunity to take graduate-level courses. The campus is gorgeous, with many bike trails and a well-equipped gym.

Soon, Lobsenz will start working on his valedictorian speech. The insights he’s gained from Rhetoric and Persuasion — and the confidence that comes from competitive power lifting — should make for a memorable day.

Mattie Guadarrama, classroom and extracurricular excellence

Guadarrama, who also attended Long Lots Elementary and Bedford Middle schools, has a wide range of interests and achievements, spanning Staples’ debate team, chess club, National Honor Society, honor societies for science and social studies, and the high school’s tennis team.

He plays piano, and during COVID lockdown taught himself guitar. He also produces music – rap beats, EDM and pop – which he uploads and makes for friends.

His academic interests include English, history and math. “I’m bad at coding,” he admits.

English teachers Noreen McGoldrick and Heather Coletti-Houde were enormous influences. Math instructor Rasha Tarek was “helpful and patient,” too.

Like Lobsenz, Guadamarra did not set out to earn the highest grade-point average in his class. “I didn’t want to be in the spotlight,” he says. “It can be tempting to do what other people do, or what people expect you to do. I just did my best, and didn’t worry too much about grades. 

“I didn’t know what to take as a freshman. It’s important to be patient,” he advises. “It’s all part of the process. The most important thing is to figure out who you are, and what you’re good at. All of my activities, I’ve wanted to do.”

Being engaged in his classes — “relaxed and talkative” — helped him do well, and find his best friends. 

Guadamarra “initiated conversations, and learned from other people.” 

Taking chances helped make his Staples experience “more than about grades. It was about living, learning, and experiencing a variety of things.”  

This fall, Guadarrama heads to the University of Pennsylvania. He may major in mechanical engineering. “It’s applicable to a lot of different things,” he notes. 

“I’m open-minded about my future.”