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| Mom of the Year, Colleen McKenna Johnston, with her daughters, Christine and Carrie Johnston. |
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| Dad of the Year, Greg Jankowski, with his daughter Kate Jankowski. |
For more than 50 years, The University of Iowa has been honoring a Mom and Dad of the Year. This year’s honorees were recognized as part of halftime events during the October 25 Hawkeye football game.
Mom of the Year is Colleen McKenna Johnston, who was nominated by her daughters Christine and Carrie Johnston. Christine is a senior in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and Carrie is a junior in the College of Pharmacy. Colleen Johnston teaches middle school algebra in Ankeny and has been teaching since 1975. She is president of the Ankeny Education Association and has taught in Japan and England through the Fulbright Exchange Program.
Dad of the Year is Greg Jankowski, who was nominated by his daughter Kate Jankowski, a sophomore and double major in business marketing and communications. Greg Jankowski is a sales representative for NCC spot cable TV in Chicago. His activities include coaching youth soccer and teaching religious education classes, and he is active in his neighborhood and in his local high school’s booster program, helping to raise money for athletic events.
Any student enrolled at The University of Iowa can nominate his or her parent to be recognized as a Mom or Dad of the Year. The application information includes a list of the parent’s occupational achievements, community activities, volunteer work, and personal accomplishments and honors. In addition, the student must write an essay describing his or her parent’s personal characteristics, what he or she has done for the student or others, and why his or her parent should represent all Iowa parents. Omicron Delta Kappa, the national leadership honor society for upper-level students, selects the Dad of the Year, while Mortar Board, a national honor society that recognizes college seniors, chooses the Mom of the Year.
