Iowa
Even conferring diplomas, I see how Iowa has shut the door on public education
My passion for public education has been, let’s say, exacerbated by the actions of our state legislators.
Recently I had the pleasure of handing diplomas to graduates. I did nothing to help these individuals reach this milestone. I was standing on a stage facing the students, who had surmounted myriad odds to achieve their place on the steps to the stage.
I was facing all the people to the left and right, sitting on bleachers, who had had to beg them to get out of bed to go to school. I was facing all the faculty, who screamed alternately with joy and frustration during the years that culminated in this one hour celebration. All the people in that gymnasium were living witnesses to determination and hope and expectations and sacrifice and silliness and confidence and doubt and, most importantly, to the existence of, the efficacy of, the accessibility of public education.
Fittingly, the faculty was sitting behind the students. Behind is fitting, because they have been behind these students, lifting them up, reigning them in, pushing them forward, through this challenging journey.
A few of us are born to thrive in academia; the rest of us wrestle our way through the accouterments of education: requirements, curriculum, technology, tuition, new personalities, old habits, textbooks, lectures, traditions and innovations.
This diploma represents the equivalent of Indiana Jones stepping into space in his quest for the holy grail.
This diploma has prepared our students for “what if?” What if I take a step and find solid footing? What if I take a step and fall into space? We know that the faculty has prepared them for welding, nursing, growing, teaching, cooking, and dozens of other careers, but our students are stepping out into the space of the real world, a world that is not even close to the predictable environment of public education.
This diploma is part of hundreds of individuals stories, as varied as the shoes they are wearing, as varied as their DNA.
This is the only time they’ll all look alike, in caps and gowns, not sure if that cap is going to stay on, sweating under the robe. They are sitting closer together than they ever have in this journey through libraries and classrooms and internships and coffeeshops.
They line up to climb the steps, hand their name card to the dean, who double-checks to make sure she pronounces their name correctly, and they walk a few feet to a person they don’t know who hands them this precious folder.
I am the person they don’t know. I have not shared a cup of coffee or a beer with any of them. I have never read a single word they have written. I did not help them choose a major, I did not help them find a book, I did not suggest they redo an assignment. I did not hand them tissues as they cried in my office. I did not celebrate with them when they outdid themselves. I did nothing to get them up on that stage.
But I represent everything that is amazing and noble about a folder from Eastern Iowa Community College, from any institution of public education. I serve on the Board of Trustees. How I got on this stage with the “dignitaries” is another journey, that started somewhere. Maybe it started in a one-room country school, one room, two paths, a big bell in the belfry and assorted students, K-8, sitting in that one room with one teacher. I had an eighth-grade education by the time I finished kindergarten.
Maybe it started in a Works Progress Administration-built high school whose architectural style required 40 granite steps between creaky wooden floors.
Maybe it started when I sampled and rejected and finally accepted a career in public education.
Regardless, my passion for public education has been, let’s say, exacerbated by the actions of our state legislators as they have stripped away not only the pillars, but the foundations of public education. They have turned public education, even in the public schools, into a cut-throat competition for — money. Not for students. Not for staff. Not for communities. For profit. We used to confine competition to the playing field, the gym, the court. Now public schools are being forced to compete for services — the services of book sellers, the services of social workers and counselors. Our elected officials have stripped away the kind of funding that probably supported their own educations.
So, I shook hands with public education. Four Madisons, three Rileys, six Michaels, one Brecken, a couple Brandons and dozens more hands of real people with real names with a real education. I shook hands with the future. I shook hands that will build, guide, give, teach, save, protect. I shook hands with what has been the pride of Iowa: public education.
Interestingly, there were no legislators on that stage. That is unusual and significant. You tell me why.
Dianne Prichard is on the Board of Trustees of Davenport-based Eastern Iowa Community College.
Sometimes you see something you like and go right after it. That was the case with Iowa when it watched Dima Petrov kick a football last week. The Hawkeyes offered a full-ride scholarship to the specialist.
While the days of top kickers and punters walking on in hopes of maybe earning a scholarship when they were upperclassmen are gone, a junior picking up a scholarship is still uncommon. Iowa doing it gives it a leg up on whatever the competition might end up being.
“Iowa is definitely my No. 1 school at the moment,” he said. “Although it’s too early for me to make any big decisions, the likelihood of me becoming a Hawkeye is very high.”
Petrov (6-2, 190) also worked out for Wake Forest and UConn this month. The Hanover (N.H.) High all-stater was invited to camp at Virginia Tech, Arizona, Michigan State, Florida State and others. Interest in him is on the rise.
“Right now, it’s too early for me to make any big decisions. My plan is to commit in the next year or so, as soon as I’m 100 percent certain that I’ve found the right place. A lot of factors go into that, with the most significant one being education,” he said.
Petrov plans on majoring in Business. Iowa has a good one in the Tippie Business School.
“That was what my parents studied and then built their careers in, and I see my future in that same sphere,” he said.
The Hawkeyes did well in impressing a prospect visiting a state half a country away from his home.
“I had a fantastic time exploring all the incredible facilities and campus. Coach (Chris) Polizzi and the rest of the Hawkeyes’ special teams staff were absolutely amazing and made the visit unforgettable. I also loved how proud and passionate the whole city seemed about the program, which is something that you don’t see often.”
Access to advanced technology at Iowa also stood out.
“The workout with the Trackman system helped me identify other areas for improvement in my kicking by providing precise numbers,” he said.
After leaving Iowa, Petrov was invited to the Chris Sailer Kicking Showcase on Sunday. Following his performance, he’s now the second-ranked kicker nationally in the 2028 Class. Perhaps more offers will be on the way.
For now, the Hawkeyes are the leaders in the clubhouse. Petrov is looking forward to visiting them again.
“I can’t wait to come back to Iowa, hopefully very soon. I’d love to go on a game-day visit and see how electric Kinnick (Stadium) gets. Although I don’t know the exact dates yet, my plan is to be back there in the next few months,” he said.
Iowa State basketball forward Joshua Jefferson on being All-American
Iowa State basketball forward Joshua Jefferson on being a first team All-American.
Iowa State basketball forward Joshua Jefferson sat in the stands of the Barclays Center, the site of the 2026 NBA Draft, before he was selected in the first round on June 23.
Now he’ll be taking the court and calling that arena home. The Barclays Center is also the home venue for the Brooklyn Nets. Jefferson was drafted 28th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves, but he was traded to the Nets shortly thereafter.
“Just seeing what they need for their team, they felt that I fit in a lot of spots because of my versatility,” Jefferson said of his pre-draft communication with the Nets organization. “I think I’m where I need to be. The Nets took a great chance with me, and I’m very thankful for that.”
The versatile 6-foot-9 Jefferson continues to put himself in exclusive Iowa State basketball company. A consensus All-American, Jefferson is the first Cyclone to be drafted since Tyrese Haliburton was taken 12th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft. Dating back to 2000, Jefferson is the sixth Iowa State product to be a first-round draft selection, joining Marcus Fizer, Jamaal Tinsley, Craig Brackins, Royce White and Haliburton.
He’s looking forward to playing alongside other versatile big men, new Nets teammates Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr.
“So much knowledge between the two, and I’m just going to be a sponge,” Jefferson said. “Asking them questions all the time and learning as much as I can. They’ve been through the ups and downs of the league, and it’s going to be on me to make sure that I’m seeking information.”
After starting out as a three-star recruit from Las Vegas, Nevada, Jefferson arrived at Iowa State as an under-the-radar transfer coming off a knee injury after two seasons at Saint Mary’s.
Once healthier, Jefferson had a breakout junior year in 2024-25 when he became the first player in Big 12 Conference history to record more than 450 points, 250 rebounds, 100 assists, 70 steals and 25 blocks in a season.
He followed up on his impressive introductory season in Ames with an All-American campaign as a senior in 2025-26. The do-it-all forward elevated his game in nearly every aspect on the court and showcased an improved perimeter jumper.
He averaged a career-best 16.4 points, with 7.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. He shot 47.1% overall and 34.5% from long range. Jefferson became the first player in school and Big 12 history to record multiple triple-doubles during conference play in a season.
Jefferson achieved the feat with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against West Virginia on Jan. 2, then followed up with 17 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists in a turnover-free outing in a win over UCF on Jan. 20.
He graduated from Iowa State as a two-time All-Big 12 player and the first Cyclone to earn consensus All-American honors since Georges Niang did so in 2016. He racked up 1,367 points, 737 rebounds, 352 assists, 179 steals and 70 blocks over his four years of college basketball, which includes two seasons at Saint Mary’s and two more at Iowa State.
Jefferson stands out with his versatility and toughness on both ends of the court. He can rumble down low but also possesses skills like a guard, from his playmaking ability, good decision-making and court vision. Defensively, he can guard multiple positions and is a strong rebounder.
“The thing about my game that’s going to translate pretty quickly is my physicality,” Jefferson said. “The NBA is a physical game right now, you have to be physical in the playoffs to win and that’s what I’m going to bring.
“Then, just going to continue working on my shot. Shooting it really well throughout this pre-draft process, a lot of reps. I think if I continue to do that, it’s going to keep me on the floor, and defending on both sides.”
Unfortunately for Jefferson, he didn’t get a proper ending to his collegiate career. He suffered an ankle injury in the opening minutes of the Cyclones’ first-round rout of Tennessee State in the NCAA Tournament. He missed the remainder of his team’s run in the Big Dance, and the short-handed Cyclones fell to Tennessee in the Sweet 16.
Now healthy and his NBA dreams realized, Jefferson is looking to start the next chapter of his basketball journey strong.
“When that injury happened, I feel like a lot of things were jeopardized from that, but going into pre-draft, I was like, just make the most of your workouts and attack rehab and then everything’s going to go how it needs to go,” Jefferson said. “Very blessed for this position that I’m in and just very thankful.”
Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at erapay@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5
This story has been edited from its original publication to clarify that Jefferson was drafted by Minnesota and then traded to Brooklyn.
SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa (KUOO) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources continues to recommend no swimming at one beach in the Iowa Great Lakes.
Iowa DNR officials say Crandall’s Beach on the north shore of Big Spirit Lake continued to have high levels of E. coli bacteria in the latest tests conducted last week.
The agency says Emerson Bay, which was on the list of recommended no-swimming locations a week ago, has been removed from the designation as the levels there had dropped below the advisory guideline. Ainsworth Beach on the south side of Big Spirit Lake, along with those at Gull Point, Pikes Point and Marble Beach, were all listed as safe for swimming.
Officials caution that bacteria levels can change quickly depending on weather and other conditions.
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