Named Awards

Mike Laux is the beloved long-time coach of the Staples girls swim team. He has a true gift for promoting inclusivity and engagement. With a belief that as many girls as possible should participate in sports, Mike started the junior varsity swim competition in the FCIAC as well as the coed water polo team. He is a founding director of Project Return, a 30-year director/trustee of the Westport Y, and served on the Westport Youth Commission. While President of the Kiwanis Club, he created the Minuteman Triathlon.  Mike also served on the STG Board in the mid-1990’s after his daughters graduated from Staples.

Paula and Dick Leonard were fixtures in the Westport community. As a successful real estate broker, Paula gave generously of her time as a member of the Westport Commission for Senior Services, helping to lead construction of the Westport Center for Senior Activities and conversion of Saugatuck Elementary School into The Saugatuck, providing moderate income housing to aging town residents. As a long-time English teacher at Staples, President of the Westport Education Association and a labor lawyer, Dick inspired educational excellence for generations of Westport students and countless connections with fellow teachers. This award commemorates the spirit of community and volunteerism that Paula and Dick embodied.

A dedicated speech and language pathologist, Judy served the Westport school system for over 20 years. An unforgettable woman, she touched the lives of students, teachers, family members and friends.

Horace Lewis was a custodian within the Westport Public Schools for over 30 years and retired as Head Custodian of Staples High School before his unexpected passing in December, 2021.  Classrooms, hallways, teaching kitchens, storage areas, auditorium, gym, fieldhouse, cafeteria, library, TV studio, boilers and HVAC systems — Horace kept them all sparkling and working. Despite a stressful job, staff, teachers and students only knew Horace as the tallest, walkie-talkie carrying, cheerful custodian. Over the years, countless numbers of students (and parents!) enlisted Horace’s help after leaving coats, backpacks, sporting equipment and various other personal items behind at school. Even after his official retirement, Horace stayed on to help the schools cope with Covid cleaning requirements.  This award is to honor Horace’s legacy of hard work, service to others and his positive outlook.

Linde is a leading industrial gases and engineering company with 2018 pro forma sales of USD 28 billion, approximately 80,000 employees globally, and customers in more than 100 countries worldwide. The company is committed to improving the communities where its employees live and work.  The Linde Global Giving Award was created in 2013 to support the educational goals of high school graduates pursuing higher education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

This annual award was established in the Fall of 2020 by the families of five former PTA Presidents: Candace Banks, Carolyn Caney, Lisa Hill, Sandra Krenzer, and Melissa Signorile. These volunteers led the Long Lots PTA in successive terms from 2013-2019. In this role, they dedicated themselves to supporting the students and staff of Long Lots School (“LLS”) through fundraising and community-building events as well as advocating for the interests of all WPS students at public town meetings throughout the year. A most welcome outgrowth of their extensive LLS volunteering is that the five women became great friends. The Lioness Award is a way for them to continue to support the ambitions of Staples High School graduates and to also celebrate their friendship that was borne of their volunteer work. The mascot of Long Lots School is “Leo” the Lion. The Lioness Award shall be renamed annually in honor of an LLS educator or staff member who has positively impacted the Long Lots community in a significant way. The 2021-2022 Lioness Award educator honoree is Jacque O’Brien.