Katie Marie Broecker g04
1982-2007
Katie Marie Broecker was born March 17, 1982, to Richard and Patti Broecker in Cincinnati, OH. She grew up just outside of Cincinnati in Milford with an older brother and two younger sisters. At six years of age, she committed her life to Christ, and grew in that relationship at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. During the summers, she and her family went to Youth Haven Bible Camp in Kentucky, where she enjoyed the classes until she was old enough to help as a junior counselor during her high school years.
At Milford High School (1996-2000), Katie was a very active student. She participated in basketball, volleyball, softball, track & field, soccer and cross-country. Broecker was not only a dedicated and hard-working athlete, she excelled in academics. She was an Honor Roll student and received academic awards throughout high school. Katie was also the head editor of publications, a talent that continued throughout her college career. After graduating from high school, she began her studies at Taylor University Fort Wayne (TUFW) in 2000 with a major in public relations.
Katie played basketball for four years (2000-2004), and became an instant leader on the team. She was TUFW's Most Valuable Player (MVP) for three straight seasons, and set many school records. She was named a United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) player of the week during the 2001 and 2002 seasons. Broecker was also named USCAA All-American in 2002 and USCAA Honorable Mention All-American in 2003. By the time she graduated in 2004, she had clearly set the standard in women's basketball by setting 11 career records:
- Most games played: 95
- Most free throws: 235
- Most field goals: 531
- Most career points: 1702
- Most rebounds: 961
- Most assists: 241
- Most blocked shots: 128
- Most steals: 145
- Most 3-point goals: 93
- Highest career scoring average: 17.9
- Most points in a game: 37
- Most defensive rebounds in a single game: 18 (2001-2002)
Broecker is still the record-holder for the most career points, most career field goals made and most field goals made in a season. She also set a record in 2001 in a game against Mary Grove, when she dominated the boards by making 18 defensive rebounds.
Her teammates remember her as a leader and a visionary. This leadership was particularly critical when the team experienced a change in coaches. She not only served as a resource for the new coach, but helped stabilize the rest of the team through the transition. In fact, she led the team to Nationals in 2003 where they placed fifth.
Basketball kept Katie busy, but was not the only activity she participated in while at TUFW. She served as a manager for the men's soccer team, and was a member of the yearbook staff. She managed all this while working full-time on the third shift at Kitty Hawk to help pay for her TUFW education. For five years, she was the assistant director of the Foellinger Summer Camp "Leaders in Sport" held at TUFW, and also worked with children at the Boys & Girls Club.
While she was a leader on campus in her various activities, those who knew her would tell you that basketball was not her main passion. Most evident in her life was her commitment to her Creator. Early in her career at TUFW, she went on a spring break missions trip that shaped her life for years to come. In just one short week, she fell in love with the people of Haiti. Her passion for Haitians grew, and she returned to Haiti several times throughout her career at TUFW, even making trips on her own.
She also incorporated this passion into her course work. Katie completed her internship with an organization in Haiti called Jesus in Haiti Ministries. During that experience, she developed a logo, mission statement, brochure and promotional DVD; all the while, focusing on how to help the people of Haiti meet their basic needs and expose them to the love of Christ.
After graduation, Katie decided to return to Haiti full-time. Because of her passion for the orphans and the people of the villages, she took a position at Quisqueya Christian School in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Although her position was in public relations, with a primary responsibility of recruiting staff for the school, Katie's nature to engage in people's lives led her to also help with other activities. In her short career at Quisquaya, she served as the coach for boys' basketball and girls' soccer teams, the yearbook director, the physical education teacher, and Student Council advisor. She became a mentor and friend to many students and staff at Quisqueya.
Katie died in her sleep on October 27, 2007, at the age of 25, while serving in Haiti. Her death was a shock to all of her family and friends. She will be remembered for her zeal for life and love for Christ. Her ability to love people and to show Christ to others through loving them serves as an example for all. Regardless of the person, their background, their interests or their age, Katie found a way to relate to them. While she was extremely compassionate and caring, she did not shy away from holding people accountable or speaking truth to them. She is deeply missed not only by her family and friends in the States, but also her adopted family in Haiti.
