Bear’s efforts in Haiti making a world of difference

Today marks the four-month anniversary of the earthquake that shook Haiti back in January. Since then, Baylor students, faculty and alumni have done all sorts of things to help out, from collecting t-shirts to raising money to going as missionaries (both short and long term) offering medical aid and practical assistance in the rebuilding process. (The Waco Tribune-Herald reported on many of these efforts recently.)

But perhaps no single Bear’s efforts have been as inspiring as those of Katie Wilhoit Kilpatrick, BA ’08, who along with her husband, Ben, arrived in Haiti last December to teach at a local school. Less than two weeks later, the earthquake hit, but Katie and Ben decided to stay put. In the first weeks after the earthquake, they helped evacuate an orphanage, run supplies to makeshift hospitals, and provide support for a U.S. Army command center that sat up camp on their school’s campus.

As things have returned to something approaching normalcy, classes have started back up again. The couple teaches class from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, then spends evenings and weekends doing relief work and raising money for the school. Katie — the daughter of two Baylor Bears, Randall (BBA ’80, MBA ’82) and Susan Rhodes (BBA ’81, MBA ’82) Wilhoit — and Ben have also kept a blog (benandkatieinhaiti.com) throughout their stay in Haiti that makes for fascinating reading.

Sic ’em, Bears in Haiti!

[We learned of the Kilpatricks’ adventures from a Bear who shared her Baylor pride. Do you know of an inspiring story, news item, or just a fun link that makes you proud of Baylor and the Baylor family? Let us know! Click on the “Submit Your Point of Pride” button in the top right corner!]