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Students

Grant Eligibility and Renewal Requirements

All graduating seniors and alumni of Staples High School in Westport, CT, are eligible to apply for a Staples Tuition Grant each year they attend an undergraduate, community college, vocational, or trade school. Grants are based on demonstrated financial need and are not loans, meaning funds are paid directly to the school. Awards cover one school year, and students must reapply annually, regardless of past awards. We reassess each applicant’s financial situation every year, so any student with financial need is encouraged to apply.

Key Student Information

STG awards are entirely needs-based, with approximately 96% of all donations going directly to fund grants, thanks to our all-volunteer board and low overhead. The application process is aligned with FAFSA, ensuring grants reach those with the greatest financial need. Awards are based on net tuition, fees, room, and board after factoring in gift aid and scholarships. Student loans are not included in the calculation. New applicants attend a meet and greet to match them with donor preferences. Unlike many aid programs, STG offers continued support for students throughout their undergraduate education.

STG Awards Ceremony

Every spring we hold an Awards Ceremony to honor that year’s grant recipients.  We welcome our donors to attend, especially those who funded or administer STG named awards.  Recognizing our students and connecting them with the sponsors of their awards is one of the great joys of our year.

The 2024 ceremony was held at the Staples High School auditorium on June 3, 2024.  All 2024 applicants who received an award for the 2024-25 academic year were invited to attend, along with award donors and members of the Staples and Westport community. The ceremony was hosted by Dan Woog and included several guest speakers, including First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker; David Ruden, STG donor, and Griffin O’Neill, a SHS ’17 graduate and past STG award recipient.

 

Congratulations! You got into college. Now what?

young student receiving her staples tuition grant

GRANTS are NOT Loans. STG AWARDS do NOT have to be repaid.

STG grants are need-based and the application process is confidential. We use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) metric as well as each student’s individual tuition, room and board costs, netted against any school or third-party grants and scholarships, to calculate your need-based qualification.

Like any grant program, applicants should familiarize themselves with STG’s application deadlines. Please note the STG process requires Staples seniors to attend a meet and greet with one of our board members so that we can get to know their achievements, desires and academic goals and match each student with the appropriate named award.

Key STG Deadlines to Watch

 

Tax and Legal Information:
Staples Tuition Grants (STG) is incorporated as a domestic non-stock corporation in the State of Connecticut. It is a tax-exempt corporation in accordance with Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (“Code”) and is classified as a public charity under section 509(a)(1) and 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) of the Code. Contributions to STG are deductible under section 170 of the Code. STG is also qualified under Code sections 2056, 2106 or 2522 to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers or gifts. STG’s federal Identification number is 51-0182993. “Staples Tuition Grants” is a trade name under which the Staples High School Tuition Grants Committee, Inc. conducts business in the State of Connecticut. STG’s address is P.O. Box 5159, Westport, CT 06881.