School children in classroom at lesson

McCallum, University of Iowa Class of 2026 set bar high academically

IOWA CITY, IOWA — The University of Iowa continues to attract high-achieving students.

This fall’s incoming first-year class — a group that includes Kenneth McCallum of Cape Coral, who plans to pursue a degree in elementary education — has topped previous records with an average high school grade-point average (GPA) of 3.82.

The average high school GPA for the classes of 2025 and 2024 were 3.81 and 3.78, respectively.

It is also the third-largest incoming first-year class on record at 5,178 students, after 5,643 in the fall of 2016 and 5,241 in the fall of 2015.

At 5,178, the Class of 2026 has 657 more students than last year’s incoming first-year class. About 21% of the class (1,063) are first-generation students, and about 20% (1,061) identify as African American, American Indian, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Asian, Latinx/a/o, or two or more ethnicities.

This year, 21,973 undergraduates are enrolled at Iowa. Graduate students total 6,156, and professional students total 1,886. Total undergraduate, graduate, and professional enrollment is 30,015 students.

To learn more, visit https://uiowa.edu/.

School District of Lee County

to host Social Lee event Sept. 29

The School District of Lee County is hosting Social Lee: Careers & Conversa-tions, an informational event that will provide insight on teaching and instructional support positions within the District, Thursday, Sept. 29, in Fort Myers.

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet district representatives, learn about the variety of career paths available and walk through the process of becoming certified to teach in Florida. Select candidates may also be offered an interview for potential employment. Positions are available across the District with a focus on high-demand positions like English, elementary education, science, math and special education, as well as for instructional support positions.

The Social Lee informational event will take place from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Mission BBQ, at 12984 S. Cleveland Ave., in Fort Myers. To register by Sept. 28, visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeiDOY 65Aeq74izVO2NqxorWnMdbCc53H0tQHrLkuQlAhr8zA/viewform .

With a growing enrollment of more than 95,000 students and 120 schools, the district’s efforts to put “The Right Talent in the Right Place” means that new teachers will receive the support and necessary resources that will enable them to succeed upon entering the field of education. The School District of Lee County offers a competitive and comprehensive compensation plan for its employees. Additional benefits and earning opportunities are also available via advanced degree supplement, summer school, athletic coaching and more. Upon hire, a personal benefits selection process will be made available to eligible employees. For more information about career opportunities, visit www.LeeSchools.net/ Careers.

Oct. 31 deadline for ‘Ding’

Darling Pocket Refuge grants

Each year since 2005, the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, in partnership with the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge, has awarded conservation grants to local teachers for science projects related to studying the environment. For the 2021-22 school year, the Environmental Education Grant Program transitioned to Pocket Refuge grants at eight Lee County district schools to teach students about the importance of pollinators and the habitat that sustains them.

In the 2022-2023 school year, “Ding” Darling again offers grants to five schools in Lee County. Interested schools (grades K-12) may apply up until Oct. 31, 2022. Selections will be made in November for gardens to be planted by May 2023. Educators can visit dingdarlingsociety.org/articles/pocket-refuge-grants for a link to the grant application.

Working with district Environmental Education Resource Susan Hassett, DDWS last year distributed a total of $12,000 ($1,500 to each of the schools) to buy supplies to create native pollinator gardens from a menu of native plants, bird houses, trail cameras, solar-powered fountains, and other enhancements. Schools submitted proposals for building their gardens and maintaining them for two years.

For more information about applying for a grant or supporting the Pocket Refuge program, contact Sierra Hoisington, DDWS Associate Executive Director, at shois@dingdarlingsociety.org, 239-472-1100, extension 233.