Matelan Crowned Ms. Wheelchair USA

With a platform addressing disability issues on college
campuses, Kate Matelan of Emmaus, Pa., was crowned the new Ms. Wheelchair
USA at a July 25 ceremony in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. A
quadriplegic since the age of five resulting from a car accident,
the 21-year-old Matelan is a senior at Bucknell University studying
business administration and management. She will travel the country
on behalf of Ms. Wheelchair USA — in an electric pink
wheelchair with seat covers that match every outfit — to work
with colleges in identifying on-campus barriers that disabled
college students face. “Disability awareness is key in creating an
improved future for everyone with disabilities,” Matelan said in a
release. “By working together, I know we can accomplish a great
deal.” For more about the program, see www.MsWheelchairUSA.org.