Tag Archives: Gunnar Eklund

Nolan Francis Wins Staples Key

Posted on May 28, 2026 | 3 comments

Nolan Francis — a science researcher, violinist, swimmer, honor student and active volunteer in and out of school — has won Staples High’s greatest honor.

He was awarded the Staples Key, at last night’s annual awards ceremony.

Three outstanding students are nominated by faculty, based on superior academic achievement, loyalty to Staples, and contribution to the Staples community Voting is done by members of the senior class.

The other finalists were Gunnar Eklund and Sophie Smith.

Introducing Francis last night, assistant principal Christine Cincotta said, “Nolan’s school counselor describes him as talented, disciplined, and highly personable. His demeanor is calm and jovial, always accompanied by a big smile, and he remains consistently focused on his personal goals. Nolan has served as captain of the boys swim and dive team for 2 years, and advanced to the state finals.

“He was selected to be part of the Link Crew, and is a 4-year member of Staples’ Service League of Boys. He has also served as vice president of the Science National Honor Society, and is the co-founder of our newly reestablished National English Honor Society chapter.

“Through Staples’ research program, Nolan was named a Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholar (one of only 300 in the country).

Nolan Francis

“He is also an accomplished violinist who has received recognition at the state level. Outside of school, Nolan has coached Special Olympics swimmers, served as a camp counselor for children with severe medical conditions at Camp Discovery, and researched rare genetic skin conditions at Yale. He even wrote a children’s book to help kids living with these conditions feel seen and connected to a community.

“One of the things I appreciate most about Nolan is the way he brings humor and a level-headed perspective to every conversation. I am grateful that he is a member of our Staples community.

“Nolan will attend Williams College in the fall to study biology (and bring his banana-bread-baking skills to the Berkshires).

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Introducing Eklund, Cincotta said: “Gunnar’s school counselor describes him as kind, considerate, intelligent and genuine. He brings a thoughtful approach to everything he does.

“Gunnar has served as president of the Staples Debate Team, worked with the Staples Service League of Boys board to coordinate volunteer events, and collaborated with last year’s ‘We The People’ Constitution team to represent Connecticut as Top 10 national finalists.

“During his summers Gunnar has worked as a lab intern, a camp counselor at Camp Mahackeno, and a courtroom aide for North Carolina’s 4th Prosecutorial District.

“This past year he has become even more involved in the Westport community by contributing to Dan Woog’s ‘06880’ blog, delivering a Veterans Day speech at Town Hall, and helping 2023 Staples alum Addison Moore become the youngest-ever elected RTM official.

“Regardless of these accomplishments and roles, Gunnar says his time at Staples has been shaped most by the extraordinary people he has met. I would add that Gunnar has also shaped those around him over the past 4 years because he is an extraordinary person himself. He will always greet you with a smile and ask how you are doing. He genuinely cares about those around him, and that thoughtful approach is something I will always remember about him.

“Gunnar will study government and biology at Cornell University this fall.

Gunnar Eklund delivers his Veterans Day speech at Town Hall.

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 In introducing Smith, Cincotta said: “Sophie’s school counselor says she is a wonderful example of what it means to be a well-rounded person. She is an accomplished student in the classroom, actively involved in our community, and looked up to as a leader, all while finding time to give back to others in need. Sophie demonstrates that Staples is a place where students support one another in an encouraging environment.

“She is co-editor-in-chief of Inklings, one of our largest extracurricular activities. As the social media specialist for Business Leaders of America, she actively recruits new members. Sophie is also a member of the varsity squash team and the co-founder and co-president of Peter’s Heart Club, which provides educational support to underprivileged children in Uganda.

“In each of these spaces, Sophie has learned that success is rarely individual; instead, it is built on collaboration. She consistently goes out of her way to support her staff members and teammates while fostering a positive environment.

“From my own experiences with Sophie, I have seen her genuine care for others, as well as the strength and conviction behind her voice. These qualities will undoubtedly benefit those around her.

“Sophie will attend the University of Virginia this fall to study English and public policy.”

Sophie Smith (Photo courtesy of Inklings)

(“06880” regularly reports on the accomplishments of Westport’s youth. Please click here to support our continued coverage of these remarkable young men and women. Thank you!)

 

 

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Seniors Meet Seniors

Posted on February 13, 2026 | 5 comments

When Gunnar Eklund and Graysen Peters headed to the Senior Center last Friday to meet with members, they figured there would be a generation gap.

After all, they’re a very different type of senior: 12th graders.

But instead of trying to explain their lives to a bunch of older people, they settled into an easy conversation. Amid banter and laughter, both sides asked questions, and offered honest responses.

The Senior Center seniors surprised the Staples seniors with their knowledge of AI. The teenagers surprised the Baby Boomers and Silent Generation by not reflexively opposing the high school cellphone ban.

And when their time was up, they all stayed for another hour, chatting and listening and learning from each other.

Gunnar Eklund and Graysen Peters (standing), at the Senior Center.

The “Seniors Meet Seniors” event began with an invitation from the Center, to Steven Greenberg’s Friday morning chat group. Staples assistant principal Christine Cincotta recommended Gunnar and Graysen.

Through their activities — he’s on the debate team; she’s in Model UN; both competed nationally with Staples’ We the People class — they know how to communicate.

Still, they wondered how well they could connect with a much older group.

Yet barriers quickly fell. What they thought would be a “presentation” turned into, Gunnar says, “a Socratic seminar.”

Gunnar Eklund

The Senior Center attendees wanted to know, for example, the best way to communicate with their grandchildren. Together, they agreed that phone calls — scheduled consistently, if possible —  have much more impact than texts. Actual written letters are important too.

That resonated with the teens, They knew their own grandparents enjoyed connecting with them. But the conversation reinforced how important that is.

The men and women had heard about Staples’ cellphone ban. They were surprised — and pleased — to hear Gunnar and Graysen say they both feel more connected to others now, at lunch.

The older seniors were curious whether cursive writing is still taught. Graysen feels fortunate that her parents taught her how to sign her name; she and her friends struggle though to read cursive. Gunnar, meanwhile, learned it in a previous private school.

The Stapleites were surprised — and impressed — that the Senior Center members know a lot about artificial intelligence. Many use it.

Graysen Peters

When asked whether AI affects critical thinking, the teens offered personal perspectives.

Graysen said her teachers have taught her to use it in a good way. She knows how to fact-check. She does see some students use it as a shortcut.

Gunnar and his friends don’t really want to use it, he said; it takes away from critical thinking. He thinks many Staples teachers are too lenient about AI use.

Both explained about the technology to supposedly detect if students use artificial intelligence to write papers — and the harm that has come from false accusations.

Near the end, Gunnar asked what advice the seniors had for young people.

The main idea was simple: “Be kind!” (“Be kind on the road, too!” one joked.)

They’ve learned that being kind pays off in the long run, they told the teens.

“They said being kind makes you feel better,” Gunnar noted. “It gives you more positive experiences in life.”

Like, say, the experience of chatting about the world as it was, is, and will be one day, when today’s high school seniors are senior citizens.

Gunnar Eklund and Graysen Peters (middle row, 2nd and 4th from left), and the 2025 We the People team in Washington, DC.

(“06880” regularly covers Staples High School, the Senior Center — and everyone of every other age in Westport too. If you enjoy stories like this, please click here to support our work. Thanks!)

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Veterans Day Address: Staples Senior Honors Values, Sacrifices — And The Humanity Behind Every Uniform

Posted on November 11, 2025 | 7 comments

Gunnar Eklund is a senior at Staples High School. He is president of the debate team. He is also an executive board member of BridgeBuilders, helping organize discussions with the Y’s Men of Westport that foster civic dialogue. Last year he was on the school’s “We the People” team, which placed 8th in the nation. 

Recently, Gunnar worked on Addison Moore’s successful campaign for the Representative Town Meeting (RTM). He has spent his summers as a Camp Mahackeno counselor, and a legal intern. Passionate about public service, he plans to study political science in college, focusing on medical ethics.

This morning, Gunnar represented Westport’s youth at the town’s annual Veterans Day ceremony in Town Hall. In a powerful, insightful speech, Gunnar said:

Thank you for being here today as we come together to honor the veterans of our community. We are here to commemorate the men and women who have served, and who continue to serve, our country with courage, sacrifice, and heart.

My name is Gunnar Eklund, and I’m a 12th grade student at Staples High School. Today I’m honored to share my perspective, speaking on behalf of my generation as we celebrate the veterans among us.

Gunnar Eklund delivers today’s Veterans Day address. 

As students, we grow up learning about wars and battles. In social studies classes we typically discuss dates, history and outcomes: which nation won, which country lost, and what changed.

The common trend is a focus on the military at the macro level. But Veterans Day asks us to look closer, beyond the maps, timelines and textbooks, in order to recognize the individuals who lived those events.

Every single veteran has a story alongside their service. Before we dive into those stories, however, it’s important to pause and think about what service truly means. For my generation, one that has grown up without the draft, service is something we’re still learning to understand.

Gunnar Eklund (center), with veterans and participants in today’s ceremony. The Westport Community band played the national anthem and “Taps”; 1st selectwoman Jen Tooker spoke, and a memorial wreath was laid by VFW and American Legion auxiliaries. 

Service, at its core, is about commitment and honor. When a person joins the military they take an oath. They commit to live and act beyond themselves for the common good of their country, their community, and their family.

The oath is far more than codified words. It’s a promise to uphold values like honor, integrity and duty, even in the face of danger or death.

Service is also a mindset. It’s the willingness to act for something larger than your own comfort. And while many of us may never wear a uniform, the virtue behind the commitment, and mindset of service is something we can all aspire to in our own lives.

To understand what service truly looks like, it helps to hear the stories of those who have lived it. In my family and community, there exist remarkable examples of courage and sacrifice that help bring the idea of service to life.

In my own family, my great0grandfather served under General Patton’s army, which went into France and Belgium, and participated in the Battle of the Bulge in 1944.

Years later my grandfather, Edward Slavin, joined the military during Vietnam, becoming at one point the youngest American drill sergeant, at age 17.

His leadership and dedication left a lasting mark. Over the years he received letters of gratitude from those he had helped, with people writing to tell him that his guidance and courage had saved their lives.

Howard Munce — a World War II Marine platoon sergeant at Guadalcanal, and noted Westport artist — painted this. David Meth has a signed original.

Of the anecdotes my family has shared with me, my favorite remains the story of Perry Watson, a friend of my great-grandfather.

In World War II he was a part of the flash-and-sound unit, locating enemy artillery by performing advanced calculations with sound and light. On one mission, his commander asked him to swim across a river while carrying wires in his mouth to complete a critical measurement.

It was the middle of winter, and the area was under enemy fire. Watson, an honorable man, volunteered for and accomplished the task. But the sounds of bombs detonating above him deafened him for life.

This magazine cover by Westport artist Stevan Dohanos honors residents serving in World War II. It stood at our original Town Hall (now Massi Co). Those servicemembers are now memorialized on a plaque in Veterans Green, across from the current Town Hall.

Stories like these remind us of the incredible cost of service. Behind every medal and every uniform, there are human lives marked by sacrifice and loss. Millions of men and women have given their lives in defense of this country. Their sacrifices are staggering, but rarely do we pause to appreciate them.

In a time as divisive as today, fewer people seem proud to be American.

Patriotism can feel complicated, even controversial. Veterans Day reminds us that pride in this country does not mean agreement with every policy. It’s about honoring the values, liberty and sacrifices that make this nation possible in the first place.

The generations that came before us, including the so-called Greatest Generation, did not serve for applause or personal gain. They served because it was the right thing to do. They understood that safety is not guaranteed. And above all, they honorably faced unimaginable pain and sacrifice without any expectations of reward.

Veterans at last year’s ceremony. (Photo copyright Ted Horowitz)

Today, as we honor our veterans, let us remember that their courage, sacrifice and unwavering commitment reminds us of what it means to live beyond ourselves.

If we can carry even a fraction of that dedication in our daily lives, then their legacy lives on.

We must not forget these individuals, and we should all work to preserve their stories. Let us stand with gratitude and resolve as we honor the humanity behind every uniform.

Thank you.

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“Students Speak”: Gunnar Eklund: “Civic Engagement Today Shapes Our Future”

Posted on October 18, 2025 | 4 comments

“Students Speak” — a special “06880” feature — gives Westport students a voice on any issue important to their lives.

Gunnar Eklund is a senior at Staples High School. He is very involved in the debate team, and Service League of Boys. Outside of school he participates in the Pequot Runners Club. He has worked as a Camp Mahackeno counselor, and a legal intern for the North Carolina 4th Prosecutorial District Attorney’s Office. Gunnar writes:

President Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “We cannot always build a future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.”

Roosevelt’s words feel especially relevant today, in a time when so much about our future, from climate policy to education, is shaped without enough youth voices at the table.

As students we’re often told by parents, teachers and mentors that the future belongs to us — or, better yet, that we are the future.

However, we’re rarely asked to help shape it. After all, the average member of Congress is 59 years old.

Despite this generational gap, young people are far from apathetic. We care about the issues that matter. We hope to be heard, trusted, and taken seriously.

We may be students, but we are also voters-in-training. What we learn about civic engagement now will shape how we participate for the rest of our lives.

Gunnar Eklund

For me, civic engagement has taken many forms. Over the past 4 years I’ve attended monthly Connecticut Debate Association tournaments.

Through these experiences I’ve developed skills every citizen should have: the ability to research and take an informed position, the capacity to understand multiple perspectives, and above all, the willingness to engage in respectful community dialogue.

Currently, as the Staples debate team president, I work to create an environment where every teammate feels confident expressing their ideas.

As a junior, I participated in the national “We The People” competition. My team and I analyzed the Constitution, and learned to apply its principles to current issues.

The process went beyond memorizing facts; it taught me to reconsider the way I viewed government.

After months of revising drafts and rehearsing questioning sessions, our class placed 8th in the national finals in Washington, the first Top 10 finish in school history.

Beyond the ranking, this experience taught me that civic engagement thrives when people come together.

Staples’ 2025 We the People team. Gunnar Eklund is 3rd from the right, in the back row. The flag hangs in Staples’ We the People teacher Suzanne Kammerman’s classroom. 

Civic engagement has also been a cornerstone of my life outside the classroom. Observing my younger brother prepare for and become the only freshman in the country to win the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute’s Annual Civics Challenge last year showed me the value of encouraging other young individuals to engage.

Although I am not old enough to vote yet, that doesn’t mean I’m powerless to contribute. Handing out “I Voted” stickers on Election Day proved that even small actions help strengthen our country.

I’ve also had the opportunity to help Addison Moore, a Staples 2023 graduate and possibly the youngest candidate to ever run for Westport RTM, with his campaign. 

Gunnar Eklund rocks his debate team logowear.

Civic engagement is far more than casting a ballot; it’s about learning, participating, and supporting others in the process. While I look forward to the day I can vote, I’m equally excited by the opportunities I have now to become an active, informed citizen.

Every student has the ability to make a difference. Whether it’s joining a debate team, volunteering, mentoring younger students or participating in local campaigns, each action prepares us to take on greater responsibilities in the future.

Engaging in these activities teaches more than just facts about government. Leadership, empathy, and the importance of working together toward common goals are all components of civic virtue that can be learned. 

If I were to give one piece of advice, it would be to say “yes” to opportunities. Saying “yes” opens the door to new experiences, allowing you to challenge yourself and to connect with others who are also contributing to our community.

One specific way students can say “yes” is by choosing to read. Reading can look like just about anything. Surfing the web for articles about current issues, opening up a history textbook, or just flipping through a book that explores a different point of view are all fantastic ways to partake in this habit. The point is to engage with ideas beyond your immediate experience, and to ask questions that inspire you to learn more.

As FDR recognized, preparing young people today is essential to building a stronger, more thoughtful future. Every action we take now, no matter how small it seems, contributes to the communities we live in and prepares us to shape the future we hope to inherit.

(To submit a “Student Speaks” — or for questions about this feature — email 06880blog@gmail.com. We will work with students to help craft their story. Anonymity, if requested, is assured.) 

(“06880” is your hyper-local blog. Every day, we bring you news, events, opinions, photos and much more. But we can’t do it without the support of our readers. Please click here to contribute. Thanks!)

Gunnar Eklund (right), with his younger brother Tucker at the Liberty Bell.

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