By Kerri Williams

WESTPORT – More than 100 Staples High School students were awarded Staples Tuition Grants (STG) during a ceremony held at the high school on Monday.

STG gave out $400,000 in scholarships to 102 students based on financial need. Some students receive grants from the STG General Fund and others receive named grant awards such as the Max Harper Memorial Scholarship. Students had to meet special criteria for each of the named scholarships.

“A lot of people contribute to these scholarships,” said Rebecca Mace, who is on the board of STG. “Some people give $10. It’s a great way of paying it forward and changing someone’s life. If you can’t afford college, you can’t go.”

In some cases, students meet the donors who made their awards possible, which can create an emotional moment.

That happened on Monday for winners of the “Live Life to the Max Award,” named for student Max Harper who passed away in September 2024 after an accident involving a dirt bike he was riding.

Max’s father, Marcus, spoke at the event, encouraging the recipients to be the kind of person Max was – a good person, who persevered through life’s struggles.

“He told them to carry forward Max’s spirit,” Mace said.

STG is a local nonprofit that has been supporting Westport graduates pursuing higher education for more than 80 years.

Kerri Williams is a freelance writer who has worked in journalism for years, including as a reporter for the Norwalk Hour and managing editor of the Norwalk Citizen-News.