This was previously published in the 2026 senior issue.
Guillermo Lockward Lopez is a name most people don’t know. But replace Guillermo Lockward Lopez with Gman, and suddenly a lot more people know who you’re talking about. Lockward Lopez got his “Gman” nickname from his fifth-grade teacher, who couldn’t pronounce his name correctly, so he abbreviated it to Gman. Now his mom is even using it.
Lockward Lopez is now a graduating senior in Emmaus High School. After high school he plans on attending Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) as he continues to narrow his path for the future. In his free time, Lockward Lopez enjoys hanging out with his friends as well as working at McDonald’s.
Stinger: Do you have a favorite place in the school?
Lockward Lopez: It has to be [room 149]. This is like the best room you could possibly ask for. You have the best teacher, Mrs. Harstine. Everyone is always quiet; everyone is doing their work. This is where we teach pre-K [students].
Stinger: Who are your favorite teachers?
Lockward Lopez: Mrs. Kita is my favorite teacher. When I first got to high school, I was a real trouble-maker. I always tried to look for trouble, but she would always keep me on track. Mrs. Harstine… she is always easy to talk to. She always makes everybody laugh, and she’s just an amazing teacher, and I genuinely respect her. I look at her as a mom; I love her.
Stinger: What is your favorite part about working at McDonald’s?
Lockward Lopez: The interactions you have with people. You get to see how other people act. Sometimes they’re mad; most of the time they’re happy they’re getting food. Everyone’s interacting with each other and everyone’s having a good conversation.
Stinger: Do you have a favorite customer?
Lockward Lopez: Yeah, a guy named Jerry comes in every day.
Stinger: Why is Jerry your favorite customer?
Lockward Lopez: He’s always [with] a group of older gentlemen. He’s always just nice and polite. He always brings us gifts: Christmas cards, Thanksgiving cards. He’s just a funny guy. I love him.
Stinger: If you could give advice to younger students and underclassmen, what would you give them?
Lockward Lopez: I would definitely say, keep your head up. Don’t let another student or a teacher tell you that you can’t do it, because I’ve been told I can’t do it, and I know I could do it. So, if I could do it, you could do it if you keep your head up and you keep your mindset correct.
