Caroline and Martin Gross Fellowship

The Caroline and Martin Gross Fellowship honors individuals for their extraordinary work in public service. This annual award is made in tribute to Caroline and Martin Gross, whose dedication to public service will live on through the work of the fellowship recipients.

Caroline, a New Hampshire native, worked in numerous positions in the New Hampshire House of Representatives, the Governor’s office and as a State Representative from Concord. In 1989, she was appointed House Majority Leader, a position she held until her death in 1993. Upon her death, her husband Martin Gross, along with additional family, friends and colleagues, established the Caroline L. Gross Fellowship to nurture the next generation of public servants.

Martin Gross, a former mayor of Concord and chair of the Foundation’s board of directors, passed away in 2016. His wife of 16 years, Deirdre Sheerr-Gross, wanted to see the fellowship continue in the memory of both Caroline and Martin, and his name was added to the fellowship’s title.

The fellowship enables an individual involved in New Hampshire’s public sector to attend a three-week summer seminar at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Eligibility
Individuals who hold an elected or appointed position in a state, county, or municipal government within New Hampshire and also demonstrate the highest standards of performance in public service will be considered for this fellowship.

In general, the selection committee looks for candidates who meet the following requirements:
- Experience in public service
- Capacity to benefit from the program
- Desire to enhance and improve the public decision-making process in New Hampshire
Grant amount

A stipend to cover tuition, room and board to attend the Senior Executives in State and Local Government three week seminar at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in June or July.
Previous recipients

2024: Jennifer Horgan – Policy Director in the New Hampshire Senate Democrats’ Office

2023: Sheri Rockburn – Assistant Commissioner of Administrative Services

2022: Mary Ann Dempsey – General Counsel, NH Judicial Branch

2019: Elizabeth Dragon – City Manager, City of Keene

2018: James Vara – Chief of Staff and Associate Attorney General, NH Department of Justice

2017: Terence Pfaff – Chief of Staff, NH House of Representatives

2016: Craig Welch – Executive Director, Portsmouth Housing Authority

2015: Stephen Shurtleff – House Minority Leader, NH House of Representatives

2014: John Beardmore – Commissioner, NH Department of Revenue Administration

2013: Tina Nadeau – Chief Justice, NH Superior Court

2012: Christopher Clement, Sr. – Commissioner, NH Department of Transportation

2011: Marilee Nihan – Director of Medicaid Finance, NH Department of Health and Human Services

2010: Orville Brewster “Bud” Fitch II – Deputy Attorney General, NH Department of Justice

2009: Mary Beth Walz – State Representative, Town of Bow

2008: Gina Apicelli Belmont – Court Administrator, NH Judicial Branch Family Division

2007: Philip Bryce – Director of Forests and Lands, NH Department of Resources and Economic Development

2006: Catherine Provencher – Director of Audits, Office of Legislative Budget Assistant

2005: Alan Robichaud – Executive Director, Belknap County Citizens Council on Children and Families

2004: Tricia Lucas – Assistant Director for Policy and Administration, Division for Juvenile Justice Services

2003: Todd Selig – Town Administrator, Town of Durham

2002: George Bald – Commissioner, NH Department of Resources and Development

2001: Jason Hoch – Director of Administrative Services, Town of Littleton, and Beverly Hollingworth – State Senator, NH District 24

2000: Lou D’Allesandro – State Senator, NH District 20

1999: Merelise O’Connor – Deputy Director, Governor’s Office of Energy and Community Services

1998: Joan Callahan – Director of Human Services, City of Concord

1997: Kathleen Sgambati – Deputy Commissioner, NH Department of Health and Human Services

1996: David Hess – State Representative, Town of Hooksett

1995: Sylvio Dupuis – Commissioner, NH Insurance Department
Nomination and application deadlines

Nomination deadline is Friday, February 7, 2025, 5:00 pm Eastern time

Application deadline is Friday, March 14, 2025, 5:00 pm Eastern time

*Applicant must be available for an interview in mid-April

Nomination process

Step 1

Learn more about the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and determine eligibility for the fellowship.

Applicant must be able to commit to at least one session and must be able to attend in person.

Step 2

Colleagues complete and submit a nomination form by 5:00 pm Eastern time on Friday, February 7, 2025.

Complete and submit a nomination form to nominate an individual for the Caroline and Martin Gross Fellowship. Multiple nominations for the same candidate will be accepted. Self-nominations are discouraged.

Send via email to Wrffvpn.Xvrefgrnq@aups.bet or by mail to:

Caroline and Martin Gross Fellowship
New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
37 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH 03301-4005

Application and grant process

Step 1

Nomination(s) accepted by Foundation staff, candidate invited to apply.

Once nominated, a candidate will be notified in mid-February by Foundation staff and will be invited to submit an application.

Step 2

Log in or create new profile on ScholarshipSource.

The Caroline and Martin Gross application can be found at ScholarshipSource. Simply go to ScholarshipSource and sign in or click on “First Time Users Create Account” to create an account.

Step 3

Complete online application by 5:00 pm Eastern time on Friday, March 14, 2025.

Step 4

Invitation for a personal interview.

Finalists will be selected in late March and invited for an interview with the selection committee in April.

Step 5

Recipient selected.

If you are selected, you will be notified in April.

Nomination process

Application and grant process

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