Central College will welcome five Pella area students as Kid Captains at the Grandparent Day football game 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24.
Each of these students were chosen by their peers for showcasing sportsmanship and having the characteristics of a good teammate, such as being positive, respectful, accepting and considerate.
The 2026 Kid Captains are:
- From Jefferson Intermediate School: Campbell Carlstone, son of Amanda and Spencer Carlstone; and Carly Nicholson, daughter of Amy and Nathan Nicholson.
- From Pella Christian Grade School: Will Sims, son of Cory and Dana Sims
- From Pella Middle School: Lydia Brock, daughter of Steve and Melissa Miller Brock, a 2005 Central graduate; and Eli Thomas, son of Matthew and Megan Pothoven Thomas, a 2018 Central graduate.
“At Jefferson, our mission is to help every student learn, lead and achieve,” says Jefferson Intermediate Principal Blaine Forsythe, a 2015 Central graduate. “We believe everyone can be a leader, and everyone shows leadership in their own way. Campbell is a great leader because he cares about others and puts others first. He is patient, encouraging and helps others feel welcome. Carly shows leadership through her kindness, positive attitude and how she listens to what others have to say and respects their ideas. Both students represent what it means to be a Jefferson leader by making choices each day that help and encourage others.”
Pella Middle school students shared why they believed Brock and Thomas qualified to be Kid Captains.
One student wrote, “Lydia is super inclusive. She is the type of person that would go out of her way just to make you feel included. Lydia is also very reliable, she will follow through on everything. Lydia is a really good Kid Captain choice.” Another student said she nominated Brock because, “She is so kind to everyone and she always has a positive attitude. Lydia is also willing to work hard during class, and she is always helpful towards others.”
“I thought about Eli because he is always respectful to his peers and most importantly adults. Also, he puts others before himself a lot of the time!” says one classmate. Another student wrote, “I thought of Eli because he is always willing to explain his ideas and is willing to help others in class when they don’t understand.”
Grandparent Special
These students, and any other children ages 12 and under, will have free admission to the game and receive popcorn and M&M’s for Grandparent Day. The day and “Grandparent Special” complimentary concessions are in memory of Dan Marburger, former principal of Perry High School and 1989 Central graduate. Marburger devoted his life to education and enjoyed the game-day snack with his own grandchildren.
The Central Dutch will face the Buena Vista Beavers at home, at Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium.