A fifth-grade field trip to Lake Macbride State Park in Solon, Iowa, ended in tragedy this week. Authorities recovered the body of 24-year-old teacher Hannah Jorgensen of Tiffin on Tuesday afternoon, and the body of 10-year-old student Ahmed Osman of Iowa City on Wednesday. Both were recovered from the Coralville Reservoir, according to the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, which responded to the scene around 12:10 p.m. Tuesday.
Both Jorgensen and Ahmed were part of the Borlaug Elementary School community in the Iowa City Community School District. The fifth graders were on a School of the Wild field trip, an outdoor education program. The district released a statement saying both were deeply valued members of the school community and that their loss is being felt throughout Borlaug and across the district. The cause of the accident has not been released.
For families here on the Suncoast, where water is part of daily life, the story raises familiar questions about supervision, group sizes, and safety plans on school outings. There are no answers yet from investigators, and the district is focused on supporting students and staff through grief. If you’re a parent or an educator, what questions would you want answered before your next field trip? Let us know.
