Scenes from tonight’s Westport Inn reception honoring retiring Staples High School Principal John Dodig. Included are slides from a presentation by Jim D’Amico, director, Secondary Education. Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The Staples Tuition Grants Committee tonight awarded $320,000 in grants to 113 students, including eight new named awards. Retiring Staples Principal John Dodig presented the awards for the final time in his 11-year Staples career, including a newly named Dodig Award to Luis Cruz (above), who will attend Boston College. A Dodig tuition grant also went to Sophia Hampton, who will attend New York University. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

At the Staples Tuition Grants award ceremony tonight, Ann Sheffer, Staples class of 1966, presented the Doug Sheffer Memorial Award to Staples senior Jack Baylis, who will study musical theater at Point Park University, Pittsburgh. The award is named for the 1968 Staples graduate who died in January 2014 in a Colorado helicopter crash at age 63. Sheffer said her brother held a backstage role with Staples Players and the family requested that the recipient of the grant be one who had a similar role at Staples. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

It happened last month, but the Westport schools just got around to announcing it today—that the Bedford Middle School Science Olympiad Team won the Lockheed Martin Spirit Award and a $2,000 check at the Science Olympiad National Tournament at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln on May 15. The award is bestowed on only one middle school and one high school team each year and is considered the most important award aside from the first place award. One of the nation’s most prestigious science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions, the Science Olympiad brings together 120 winning middle school and high school teams advancing from state-level competitions held this spring. Pictured are (l-r) Art Ellis, Sirina Prasad, Nishika Navrange, Asina Prasad, Genevieve Domenico, Zach Katz, Swami Parimal, Maria Maisonet, Angela Ji, Aniruddha Muralis, Charlie Kleeger, Derek Ye, Tyler Edwards, Alex Tsang, Jory Teltser, Ethan Chin, and teacher Rebecca Kaplan. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

The Saugatuck Elementary School annual Field Day today featured a new event—a faculty, staff, and administration tug-of-war. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Scenes from today’s 90th graduation ceremony at Westport;s Greens Farms Academy. Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Retiring Staples High School Principal John Dodig was honored today in a Staples courtyard ceremony by students, parents, and friends. Dodig announced in December he will be retiring at the end of this school year. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com