Harriet Gibbon

Harriet Gibbon dedicated 35 years of her life to educating Wisconsin students and took great pride in her profession. Born in Lafayette County near the Welsh settlement between Rewey and Belmont, Wisconsin, Harriet attended a one-room country school herself before graduating from Platteville High School in 1934 and Platteville Teachers College in 1936. She later earned her B.S. degree in education in 1948.

Harriet began her teaching career in one-room country schools, including Pleasant Valley in rural Boscobel and Bunker Hill in rural Platteville. She went on to teach in Montfort, Belmont, Monona, and Sauk-Prairie school districts before retiring in 1974. Harriet loved children and believed deeply in the importance of education, making teaching a meaningful and lasting part of her life.

Outside of the classroom, Harriet enjoyed spending time with family, reading, playing cards—especially Euchre—and attending Bingo at the Senior Center. She loved flowers and gardening, was known for sharing her homemade raspberry jam, and enjoyed cooking and entertaining guests. She also had a love for travel, including many bus trips, and enjoyed preserving memories through scrapbooking.

Harriet was a longtime member of the Platteville United Methodist Church, Woman’s Relief Corps, and Retired Teachers.

Harriet’s nieces and nephews established this scholarship in her memory as a tribute to her life, her dedication to education, and the many students she influenced throughout her teaching career. The scholarship supports a UW-Platteville student pursuing a degree in Education, carrying forward Harriet’s passion for teaching and her belief in the importance of helping others learn and grow.