Bonnett chosen as 2012 Kid Captain

Cian Bonnett, 8, of Fairfield is one of 13 children who will receive special recognition from the Iowa Hawkeyes as a Kid Captain for the 2012 football season.

Cian will be an honorary Kid Captain at Iowa?s away game against Michigan on Nov. 17.

Now in its fourth year, the Kid Captain program is a partnership between University of Iowa Children?s Hospital and the 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,? said Thomas Scholz, interim physician-in-chief of UI Children?s Hospital. ?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 added.

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

Cian will receive a commemorative jersey and have his individual story highlighted during the football season. Cian and all other away game captains will have the opportunity to attend the Iowa home game vs. UNI Sept. 15.

Children selected as Kid Captains for the 2012 home games are: Chaz Renken, Sioux Center; Skylar Jacobson, Cuba City, Wis.; Brandi Yates, Reinbeck; Allison Mauck, Boise, Idaho; Grant Stracke, Manilla; Adam Weckel, Bettendorf; and Blake Derby, Dubuque.

In addition to Cian, children selected as honorary Kid Captains for away games are: Shawn-Brooklyn Young, West Des Moines; Brynn Bowman, Marion; Jacie Stewart, West Des Moines; Ellie Schmidt, Center Point; and Emery Tillberg, Rock Island, Ill.