Westport's Staples High School Names 2017 Valedictorian And Salutatorian

WESTPORT, CT — Emily Schussheim has been named Staples High School's 2017 valedictorian, and Christopher Scherban the salutatorian, the school announced Wednesday.

Schussheim has spent her entire academic career in the Westport school system, while Scherban moved here in 10th grade, in large part for the excellent school system.

Both will be featured speakers at the end of the school year in June: Schussheim at the graduation ceremonies, and Scherban the night before at baccalaureate.

Below is the Staples High School announcement about both students:

After attending Coleytown Elementary and Coleytown Middle Schools, Schussheim entered Staples “not thinking I’m a math and science person.” But instructors Joanne Klouda and Robin Sacilotto Hurlbut inspired her.

“They have very different styles of teaching,” the valedictorian says. “But they’re both so nice and relatable, and they both love their subjects.”

Students in those classes developed great camaraderie. “That made the entire experience validating and special,” Schussheim notes.

She’s been motivated too by Robert Papp (Pre-Calculus and Multivariable Calculus), Ann Neary (English Literature) and Kemen Zabala (Advanced Placement Spanish Language. “Spanish was a really hard-core class, in a good way,” Schussheim says. “We did so much.” She nurtures her creative writing side by attending the Iowa and Kenyon Young Writers Workshops.

In elementary school, instructor Jim Andrews helped set her on a path toward music. She’s now principal cellist in the Staples symphonic and chamber orchestras, along with Norwalk Youth Symphony. She has participates in All-State and regional orchestras, and music camps. With NYS, she toured Vienna and Prague.

Schussheim calls music “my fun team sport. It’s a really nice group of kids.” Music has helped her learn the value of practice and hard work, and grow as a person.

Of her overall Staples experience, she says, “It sounds like a cliché, but I really love the people. So many teachers and students are so good at so many things. Everywhere you look, someone is doing something incredible. I’ve met a lot of smart, strong and independent people. And a lot of them are women!”

Schussheim downplays her valedictorian honor. “Your GPA is just a number. There are so many variables to how people spend their time here.”

Schussheim will attend Yale University. She plans to study math, physics and the humanities.

She is particularly excited about delving into education reform. As president of the Staples’ Tri-M Music Honor Society, she worked with Bridgeport elementary school students in an enrichment program.

“I really got to see educational inequality,” she says. “I like kids, and I like schools. The stakes are high for everyone.”

Scherban knew no one when he entered Staples as a sophomore. He quickly met Schussheim -- because of their last names, they were in the same homeroom -- and soon found friends through band and the math team. He got involved in the Mini Maker Faire too, and looks forward to participating in this year’s Maker Faire.

The salutatorian came to Staples believing he was not a good English student. But two teachers changed that self-impression. Christina Richardson “taught me to read deeply. I failed a couple of quizzes, met with her, and really understood what she expected.” Under Noreen McGoldrick, his writing flourished. He was also influenced by Heather Colletti-Houde’s Myth and Bible class.

Scherban likes the camaraderie of his classes. Students in Advanced Placement English formed an online group chat that continues, long after the semester ended. He’s also enjoyed several study groups.

Outside of Staples, Scherban is assistant principal flutist with the Greater Bridgeport Youth Orchestra. He’s been to Italy with that group.

He has served as a counselor at a computer camp, and also helps senior citizens understand technology. That is one of the most gratifying projects he is involved with.

Like Schussheim, Scherban downplays his upcoming graduation honor. “Don’t judge a person by grades or SATs,” he advises. “Students should not take classes just for GPAs.”

Scherban loves to read (“it helps my writing,” he notes). A major influence on his road to salutatorian was reading “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” sophomore year. “It changed my life,” he says. “I stopped freaking out about grades.”

He hopes to major in computer science in college, with a business or humanities emphasis. Then he hopes to start “a real company.”

Photo: Emily Schussheim, left, and Christopher Scherban. Photo credit: Contributed