Named Awards

Nancy and Noel Wallace have called Westport home for three decades and feel profoundly fortunate to live in a town which celebrates giving back and supporting one another. With this in mind and the belief that a quality education is a child’s window to their future, they couldn’t be happier to be involved with STG.  This award is one way in which the Wallace family can assist another child in town to have the college experience everyone deserves.

In 1943, The Staples High School PTA generously funded a $100 scholarship for a graduating SHS senior with demonstrated financial need. Staples Tuition Grants was formally established. The tradition continues, and each year all of Westport’s eight schools’ PTAs, alongside Staples High School families, and our town’s elementary and middle school families, give to this to award to support our Westport young adults.

Since 1923, the Westport Rotary Club’s membership has included a wide variety of Westport residents and business people. Members raise funds to support a broad array of organizations, including Staples Tuition Grants.

This award is named for the Westport Sunrise Rotary but honors the spirit and commitment of former president Dick Eldh and his wife Cheryl. Dick was a founding member of Sunrise Rotary. His goal-oriented approach and can-do spirit brought countless projects to fruition for the organization. After his death, Cheryl joined WSR and was the epitome of Rotary’s “service above self”. They are remembered by their fellow Rotarians as “absolute gems”.

The WYWL is a non-profit philanthropic organization of women committed to promoting a sense of community through volunteerism, social activities and fundraising.

The Fable family of Westport set up a charitable trust which in part was established to assist students needing financial help while pursuing higher education. The Westport-Weston Foundation now manages the fund.

Joan and Ben Wilder raised four boys in Westport and lived here for many years. Ben appreciated and supported the importance of sports and the arts in the development of his children’s education, and continued that support through his community, government and grandchildren. He died at the age of 85 from complications of cancer. Joan was a “soccer mom” before the term was coined. She was active in a variety of causes in Westport. She died at a young age, also from cancer. Both Joan and Ben were avid supporters of the Westport Soccer Association and Staples Players.

The Board of STG established this award to show their appreciation to Dan Woog for his assistance in creating and writing the first issue of the Named Award Profile booklet. Dan continues to show his support of STG by hosting our annual Awards Night and for writing and posting articles about STG to his blog 06880 Where Westport meets the world. These articles highlight STG’s mission, goals and events, which brings public awareness and publicity to our organization.