Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds are scheduled to attend the 2012-13 FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Iowa Kick-Off Celebration—hosted by the University of Iowa College of Engineering—from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 8, at the Iowa Memorial Union.

Poet Jared Stanley, an alumnus of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, will present a free reading at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, in Prairie Lights Books, and on a live stream of the Virtual Writing University website of the University of Iowa.

James Miller, the associate principal trombonist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, will present a free recital as a guest of the University of Iowa School of Music at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 17, in the University Capitol Centre Recital Hall.

Three years ago, the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital and the Iowa Hawkeyes started the Kid Captain program, designed to tell the stories of determination, strength, and hope of the children cared for at UI Children’s Hospital. For many, their work with the hospital is ongoing as they continue to heal. We caught up with a handful of former Kid Captains to see how they’re doing now.

A new digital collection from the University of Iowa Libraries brings together letters, newspaper clippings, and photos of the Hawkeye hero and Kinnick Stadium namesake.

The regular bi-monthly meeting of the Partnership for Alcohol Safety will be held Wednesday, Sept. 12, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in Room 2390 of the University Capitol Centre.

It's too big for one venue, so a new exhibit on the UI campus will be presented in both the Old Capitol Museum and the Iowa Memorial Union. "Napoléon and the Art of Propaganda" features more than 120 drawings, paintings, sculptures, manuscripts, and other objects from a private Parisian collection.

UI School of Music faculty member Kristin Thelander will play a free recital of music for horn by American composers at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, in the Riverside Recital Hall. She'll perform with pianist Sue Haug and with the Bon Vivant Horn Quartet.

Charles Green, University of Iowa assistant vice president and director of public safety, reminds everyone to be aware of the Kinnick Emergency Evacuation Plan as the first home football game approaches this weekend.

University of Iowa Recreational Services is sponsoring the annual Steve Goff Memorial Cross-Country 5K Run/Walk Sunday, Sept. 30, to benefit a scholarship fund established in the late professor's name.

Jody Stone was one of only 97 teachers nationwide selected for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching this year.

The University of Iowa Museum of Natural History begins the annual UI Explorers Seminar series Thursday, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m. in the Biosphere Discovery Hub in Macbride Hall. The first lecture examines vast diversity among earthworms.