Summary (tl;dr)

A fifth-grade teacher and a student from Borlaug Elementary School in Iowa tragically died during a school field trip to the Coralville Reservoir, prompting an investigation and the suspension of the outdoor education program.

Essential Background

The incident occurred during a "School of the Wild" field trip, an outdoor education program for fifth-grade students from Borlaug Elementary, held at the Macbride Nature Recreation Area near Iowa City. These trips, sponsored in part by the University of Iowa's College of Education, are designed to provide students with hands-on experiences in nature.

The Full Story

A fifth-grade teacher, Hannah Jorgensen, 24, of Tiffin, and a 10-year-old fifth-grade student, Ahmed Osman, of Iowa City, both from Borlaug Elementary School in Coralville, Iowa, have died after an incident at the Coralville Reservoir near the Lake MacBride State Park spillway. The Johnson County Sheriff's Office responded to reports of people in the water around 12:10 p.m. on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. Jorgensen was recovered from the reservoir and pronounced dead at the scene that afternoon. Search efforts for Osman continued into the next day, and his body was recovered on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. The circumstances that led to the teacher and student entering the water are currently under investigation by the Johnson County Sheriff's Office.

Why It Matters

This tragic incident has caused profound sorrow within the Borlaug Elementary community and the broader Iowa City School District, leading to an outpouring of grief and support from across the state. In response to the deaths, the Iowa City Community School District has canceled all future "School of the Wild" field trips, and the University of Iowa has suspended the program indefinitely, highlighting a reevaluation of outdoor education safety. Counselors and additional support staff have been deployed to Borlaug Elementary to assist students and staff in coping with the devastating loss.

Geographic Location

• Coralville Reservoir, Solon, Johnson County, Iowa, United States (location where the teacher and student drowned)
• Macbride Nature Recreation Area, Johnson County, Iowa, United States (site of the "School of the Wild" field trip)
• Borlaug Elementary School, Coralville, Johnson County, Iowa, United States (school of the deceased, providing grief counseling and support)