Granite State Award Winner

Katherine Wells Wheeler Citation

Katherine Wheeler, you have made outstanding contributions as a public servant, women’s rights advocate and public health proponent for the state of New Hampshire. 

You earned a B.A. in Philosophy from Smith College and went on to earn your MA in French language and literature from Washington University in 1966.

In 1984, you were named “Woman of the Year” by the Union Leader and NH Sunday News for your support of NH Public Television where you served as the first chairperson of the NHPTV Auction in 1974.  Subsequently you served as Vice-President of the NH PTV Broadcasting Council, and later, as a founding member of the NHPTV Board of Governors.

In 1988, you were elected to your first term in the New Hampshire Legislature to begin your prolific career as a public servant to the citizens of New Hampshire and a strong proponent of women’s rights.  As chairwoman of the TANF (Temporary Aid to Needy Families—>used to be AFDC, Aid to Families with Dependent Children until Congress decided that single mothers on welfare were just lazy and needed a time-limit for help<)-Post Secondary Education Commission; you have been a strong voice for New Hampshire’s low income women, proposing legislation to help them achieve a life of financial independence.

Further, you sponsored a bill offering protection to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking as well as legislation to ban hazing on all schools and universities. In 2001, you were awarded a meritorious service award for your outstanding service to women and their families by the New Hampshire Women’s Lobby and the New Hampshire Women’s Policy Institute.

You are one of the founding members of the New Hampshire Public Health Association (whose mission is to strengthen the public health system in order to protect and improve the health and safety of our population),and served as President from (2003-2004).  In 2002, you were recognized as a “New Hampshire Friend of Public Health” by the New Hampshire Public Health Association for your dedication to furthering New Hampshire’s Public Health Policy and your commitment to ensuring the health of New Hampshire’s citizenry.  Currently you serve on the NARAL Pro-Choice NH Foundation (to protect women’s reproductive rights and help reduce the incidents of unwanted pregnancies). 

The University of New Hampshire wishes to honor you as a recipient of the Granite State Award, an honor reserved for those who have made exceptional contributions to the state of New Hampshire and its citizens.