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Annual Report

One Staples graduate could be first in their family to attend college. Another could be a young person with dreams of becoming a plastic surgeon. Another could be a theater student balancing jobs to help cover expenses to help their family and to pay for college.

What they share is not just drive and talent, but the backing of our town and our extended community of friends, families, businesses and civic groups. In FY26, thanks to the generosity of so many, Staples Tuition Grants awarded $420,000 to 81 students attending 58 colleges and universities. These grants—ranging from $1,000 to $7,500—help close the financial gap for graduates whose families cannot fully meet the cost of higher education.

Westport has embraced this mission for 84 years. Even before today’s tuition rates—often approaching $100,000 annually—our community recognized the importance of making higher education more accessible. That need is greater than ever: 25% of each Staples graduating class receives financial aid.

This year, our community stepped up:

 

Behind every statistic is a student’s story—of ambition, persistence, and gratitude. On behalf of the STG Board of Directors, thank you to our donors, students and their families, the supportive counselors and administrators at Staples High School and many town organizations for ensuring these stories continue to unfold. We share a common purpose to support the ambitions of students to enable them to prioritize their education – making a world of difference. The financial burden of higher education is only growing and we look forward to working with you to be as generous next year as we have been in FY26. 

Sincerely,


Ruairi Powers & Brian McGarvey

Co-Presidents

Fiscal Year 2026-27

Staples Tuition Grants

 

Click here to download the 2026 Annual Report