Kid Captain is a partnership that began in 2009 between University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital and the Iowa Hawkeyes to honor pediatric patients and celebrate their inspirational stories.

Kid Captain is open to any current or former UI Stead Family Children's Hospital patient 18 years of age or younger. Only parents or legal guardians may nominate their child.

All Kid Captains will receive a commemorative jersey, special recognition from UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital and the Iowa Hawkeyes, and an invitation to a special behind-the-scenes tour of Kinnick Stadium in August.

Children of any age may be nominated as an honorary (away game) Kid Captain. Due to sideline safety concerns, only children who will be 6 years old or older may be nominated as a home game Kid Captain

2023 Kid Captains

1. Gracelyn Springer
2. Nile Kron
3. Maggie Larson
4. Gabby Ford
5. Wyatt Rannals
6. Max Schlee
7. Mad Ramirez
8. Bentley Erickson
9. Lincoln Veach
10. Chloe Dinkla
11. Cooper Estenson
12. Nathan McDonald

2022 Kid Captains

1. Eli Belser
2. Audrey Schneller
3. Eve Jimenez
4. Anjali Sahu
5. Adam Arp
6. Cormac Faley
7. Gavin Miller
8. Elyna Clements
9. Carver Meiners
10. Tate Manahl
11. Veronica Sullivan
12. Dyln McGivern

2021 Kid Captains

1. Galilea Gonzalez
2. Lucas Moore
3. Kale Schmidt
4. Madison Williams
5. Cecilia "CC" Hoover
6. Blake Burdorf
7. Drew Hennigan
8. Brandi Gloeckner
9. Ayden Gendreau
10. Bentley Steven
11. Braelynn Krisinger
12. Bridgette Bissell

2020 Kid Captains - COVID-19

No Captains due to COVID-19 Pandemic

2019 Kid Captains

1. Aidan Kasper
2. Jackson Tijerina
3. Cien Currie
4. Enzo Thongsoum
5. Andrew Morlan
6. Gabby Yoder
7. Kendra Hines
8. Lucy Roth
9. Skylar Hardee
10. Aubrey Bussan-Kluesner
11. Jeg Weets
12. Charlotte Keller
13. Cooper Leeman

2018 Kid Captains

1. Mason Gonzalez
2. Ean Gorsh
3. Gabe Graber
4. Noah Hodgins
5. Livia Jackson
6. Kiersten Mann
7. Garret Schuster
8. Harper Still
9. Harper Stribe
10. Quinn Stumpf
11. Christopher Turnis
12. Gwen White
13. Mason Zabel

2017 Kid Captains

1. Jaelyn Butikofer
2. Hunter Fasse
3. Cooper Foster
4. Flynn Lanferman
5. Logan Manderfield
6. Leah McClain
7. Camdyn Reisner
8. Laurel Schaul
9. Sam Spore
10. Drew Steffen
11. Maddox Smith
12. Hayden Wheatley
13. Landon Wilkerson

2016 Kid Captains

1. Kinzie Hemann
2. Parker Kress
3. Abigail Hooper
4. Liam Young
5. Konner Guyer
6. Carley Neustel
7. Maxwell Stancel-Hess
8. Emeline Dunham
9. Aaron Miller
10. Hayden Despenas
11. Madelynn Higbee
12. Seth Nelson
13. Reed Havlik

2015 Kid Captains

1. Kaelea Butterfield
2. Reagen Kopsieker
3. Beau Atkinson
4. Drake Fricke
5. Lincoln Ortman
6. Sean Peck
7. Seth Barton
8. Nick Showman
9. Logan Brown
10. Laila Walton
11. Colton Barker
12. Abi Frye
13. Makayla Bell

2014 Kid Captains

1. Aidan Smith
2. Liam Feeley
3. Rylan Mohr
4. Charlotte Wagaman
5. Maree Scholl
6. Caitlyn Hill
7. Marijka Michmershuizen
8. Noah, Isaiah, and Elijah Mulder
9. Matthew McCarthy
10. Margaret Schafer
11. Faith LeMaster
12. Joseph Burken
13. Treytun Garcia

2013 Kid Captains

1. Krystal Robertson
2. Aidan Hanson
3. Dylan Holub
4. Zach Zwirlein
5. Mason Shepherd
6. Alex and Molly Kirby
7. Grace Lidgett
8. Kyleigh Burlingame
9. Michaela Inman
10. Emma Miller
11. Myles Peterman
12. Stella Turnbull
13. Carson Thomas

2012 Kid Captains

1. Jacie Stewart
2. Cian Bonnett
3. Shawn-Brooklyn Young
4. Brynn Bowman
5. Ellie Schmidt
6. Emery Tillberg
7. Chaz Renken
8. Ally Mauck
9. Adam Weckel
10. Brandi Yates
11. Skylar Jacobson
12. Blake Derby
13. Grant Stracke

2011 Kid Captains

1. Will Linder
2. Ty Buffington
3. Taylor Durham
4. Shelby Rogers
5. Ryan DeMott
6. Oliver Palmer
7. Meg Michalski
8. Kali Buchanan
9. Isaac Arguello
10. Indya Sorrell
11. Brynn Carnahan
12. Benjamin Wilson
13. Beckham Scadlock

2010 Kid Captains

1. Benny Barnard
2. Andrew Niles
3. Lilah Henry
4. Brock Beinhart
5. Taytum Bell
6. Maddie Strauss
7. Nate Fisher
8. Austin Hills
9. Zephan Abel
10. Ross Wiltgen
11. Maleah McCool
12. Mason Allen
13. Korri Hoeger

2009 Kid Captains

1. Jack Koehn
2. Chloe Dardis
3. Kelby Telander
4. Savannah Erck
5. Nikolas Ball
6. Reid Shadle
7. Trae Hamilton
8. Kyle Kinnick Roseman
9. Jacob Endress
10. Clarissa Kraayenbrink
11. Cal Kunnert
12. Nathaniel and Lucas Anderson