Katie is a 23 year old that has been through more than most. When she was a young child she was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis and was hospitalized several times and was even a Make a Wish kid, as her condition was so serious. Katie is one of six children, and the dad moved away after the youngest was born, leaving her mom a single parent. After she graduated from high school she went to Tucson to U of A. During the first semester she got the horrible news that her mother had passed away, so she transferred to ASU's west campus to help care for her younger sisters. A year later, family conflicts forced them out of their aunts home and left searching for a place to live. Still in college full time, no job, no money, no hope, Katie went to court and was awarded guardianship of her sisters, then 15, 13, and 7. They found housing, and started over again. Katie stayed on coarse and graduated from ASU with her degree in primary education and then the following school year began her teaching career as a first grade teacher. The younger sisters are doing great, now 19, 16 and 9. Katie is now engaged , and her life is very busy, running the sisters to sporting events, piano, Girl Scouts, dance lessons, as well as being a coach at her own school. Katie is a fabulous example of someone who does for others without ever so much as a pause. She is Woman of the Year to her sisters that is for sure!

Signed,
Kim Toops