A Heartbreaking Loss for Our Borlaug Community

It is with profound sadness that we share information regarding the tragic accident that occurred during the Borlaug Elementary fifth-grade School of the Wild field trip at the MacBride Nature Recreation Area.

We are heartbroken to share that Hannah Jorgensen, a fifth-grade teacher at Borlaug Elementary, and Ahmed Osman, a fifth-grade student at Borlaug Elementary, lost their lives as a result of the accident.

Hannah and Ahmed were both deeply valued members of our school district community, and we know their loss will be felt far beyond Borlaug. Our hearts are with their families and loved ones, as well as their students, classmates, colleagues, friends, and everyone who knew and cared for them. This is an unimaginable loss for the Borlaug community and our entire district.

The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office has issued the following update:

UPDATE: Johnson County Sheriff’s Office Responds to Incident at Lake MacBride

September 23, 2026 (JOHNSON COUNTY, IA) Today at 1:24 p.m., the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and assisting first responders recovered a juvenile victim from the water at the Coralville Reservoir. He has been identified as Ahmed Osman, age 10, of Iowa City. The adult victim recovered yesterday by first responders at the scene has been identified as Hannah Jorgensen, age 24, of Tiffin.

The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Johnson County Metro Dive Team, Johnson County Emergency Management, Swisher Fire Department, Lisbon Fire Department, Mt. Vernon Fire Department, Johnson County Ambulance Service, University of Iowa Police Department, North Liberty Fire Department, North Liberty Police Department, Solon Fire Department, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa State Patrol, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, UI Air Care, UI MED ONE, the Johnson County Medical Examiner, and the Story County Sheriff’s Office.

The incident remains under investigation by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, and there is no further information available for release.

Counselors and additional support personnel will continue to be available at Borlaug Elementary for students and staff in the days ahead. We also recognize that this tragedy may impact students, staff, and families throughout our district. Anyone who needs additional support is encouraged to reach out to their school.

In addition to the support available at school, the following community resources are available:

• CommUnity Crisis Center: Available 24/7 for talk, chat, or text support. Call 988 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
• Care Solace: A mental health coordination service for families and staff. Visit caresolace.com/iccsd or call (888) 515-0595 for help connecting with a local mental health provider.
• Covenant Workplace Solutions Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Free counseling for district staff. Call (833) 434-1335, email EAP@CovenantWorkplaceSolutions.com, or schedule an appointment through your member portal.

Our hearts remain with Hannah and Ahmed’s families, the Borlaug community, and everyone affected by this heartbreaking tragedy. We will continue to surround our students and staff with care and support as we navigate the difficult days ahead.