Central College will welcome six Pella area students as the 2025 Kid Captains at Central’s football game Saturday, Oct. 18. The game against Nebraska Wesleyan University begins at 1 p.m. in Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium.
Central is committed to celebrating leadership and engaged citizenship within our campus and Pella community. This initiative will provide students with opportunities to develop essential skills, foster meaningful connections and make a lasting impact on the broader community.
Kid Captains were nominated by their peers using a rubric of characteristics such as having a positive attitude, making positive contributions, considering the needs and wants of others, showing respect and accepting and tolerating the views and beliefs of others — all of which makes them a great teammate.
Central College Kid Captains for 2025 are:
- From Jefferson Intermediate School: Thaiden Lind, son of Amanda and Tanner Lind, and Rory Thomas, daughter of Allison and Alex Thomas.
- From Pella Christian Grade School: Aliza Beekhuizen, daughter of Katie and Greg Beekhuizen, and Thomas Huitink, son of Dan Huitink, Central Trustee and a 2004 Central graduate, and Jenna Daale Huitink, 2006 Central graduate.
- From Pella Middle School: Koby Barnes, son of Stephen and Heather Kraayenbrink Barnes, both 2006 Central graduates, and Maechen Cowman, daughter of Chelsea and Josh Cowman.
“Our mission is to prepare everyone to learn, lead and achieve,” says Blaine Forsythe, Jefferson Intermediate dean of students and 2015 Central graduate. “At Jefferson, we strive to give every student a chance to be a leader. Thaiden shows great leadership by his deep care for others and always being willing to put others before himself. He offers encouragement with a gentle patience that helps others feel comfortable and valued. Rory leads with her positive attitude, kindness and thoughtful ideas in class. She values people’s perspectives and their different points of view. Both Thaiden and Rory show what it means to be great Jefferson students who lead by example every day.”
“Koby is an outstanding young man who consistently models respect, responsibility, care and loyalty in everything he does,” says Scott Tjeerdsma, Pella Middle School principal. “His caring nature shines through in the way he supports his classmates, encourages his teammates, and contributes to a positive and welcoming school environment. Maechen is an outstanding young lady who exemplifies kindness, respect and compassion in all areas of her life. She consistently treats her peers and teachers with care and consideration, making her a role model within the school. Maechen’s combination of kindness and leadership makes her a valuable asset to our school community and a wonderful representation of what a kid captain should be.”
In addition to Kid Captain Day, Central will host Grandparent Day. All children 12 and under attending the game will receive free admission and the Grandparent Special, a bag of popcorn and M&M’s. The Grandparent Special honors the late Dan Marburger, former Perry High School principal and 1989 Central graduate, who enjoyed this game-day tradition with his grandkids.
Photo: 2024 Kid Captains took to the field for the coin toss at the start of the last year’s game.
