Thirteen current and former University of Iowa Children’s Hospital patients will receive special recognition from the Iowa Hawkeyes this year as each takes a turn serving as a 2012 Kid Captain.

Now in its fourth year, the Kid Captain program is a partnership between UI Children's Hospital and the Iowa Hawkeyes to honor UI Children's Hospital patients and celebrate their inspirational stories. This year's Kid Captains were selected from a field of 403 nominations.

“Each year the Kid Captain program serves to inspire all of us and remind us of the courageous children and families who come through our doors. All of them have amazing stories of strength and determination as they face life-threatening illness and injury,” says Thomas Scholz, interim physician-in-chief of UI Children’s Hospital and professor and interim head of the UI Department of Pediatrics. “Narrowing the field of nominees to just 13 captains is never easy.

“I’m sure I can speak for everyone on the pediatric health care team when I say ‘Congratulations’ to the 13 boys and girls who will serve as this year’s Kid Captains, and a special ‘thank you’ to their families for letting us share their remarkable stories,” Scholz says.

A multi-disciplinary committee of clinical care staff and professional staff selected the 2012 Kid Captains.

Children selected as Kid Captains for the 2012 home games are:

• Chaz Renken, 14, Sioux Center, Iowa
• Skylar Jacobson, 12, Cuba City, Wis.
• Brandi Yates, 14, Reinbeck, Iowa
• Allison Mauck, 10, Boise, Idaho
• Grant Stracke, 11, Manilla, Iowa
• Adam Weckel, 11, Bettendorf, Iowa
• Blake Derby, 14, Dubuque, Iowa

Children selected as honorary Kid Captains for away games are:

• Shawn-Brooklyn Young, 4, West Des Moines, Iowa
• Brynn Bowman, 1, Marion, Iowa
• Jacie Stewart, 8, West Des Moines, Iowa
• Ellie Schmidt, 4, Center Point, Iowa
• Cian Bonnett, 7, Fairfield, Iowa
• Emery Tillberg, 5, Rock Island, Ill.

Home game Kid Captains will receive tickets and parking accommodations to attend a 2012 Iowa Hawkeye home football game. In addition, the Kid Captain will have pre-game access and photo opportunities and will be an honored guest at midfield before the game.

All Kid Captains, including the honorary away game captains, will receive a commemorative jersey and will have their individual stories highlighted throughout the football season. All away game captains will also have the opportunity to attend the Iowa home game on Sept. 15.

Visit www.uichildrens.org/kidcaptain for more information on the 2012 Kid Captains.