St. Patrick School second graders join others across Iowa in receiving “Just Like Caitlin” book donation ...

Second grade students at St. Patrick School in Waukon joined all second grade classes from across the state of Iowa this past week in receiving a complimentary copy of the book “Just Like Caitlin,” written by Ally Obermeier about former Iowa Hawkeye women’s basketball star Caitlin Clark. The books were donated to the students by Dickson and Luann Jensen, who are the parents of the author, and Dickson Jensen was one of Caitlin Clark’s former coaches during her time playing youth basketball for the All-Iowa Attack.

Altogether, 50,000 books were distributed to students across the state of Iowa and in Indianapolis, IN, where Clark now plays for the Indiana Fever of the WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association). The donation was part of an effort aimed at inspiring young readers through the story of the Iowa girl who set records at both the collegiate and professional levels of basketball, encouraging youngsters to dream big and work hard while emphasizing the importance of passion and resilience.

Pictured above are the St. Patrick second grade students displaying their donated books. The two second grade classes at St. Patrick School also came together to listen to the story being read, and some are pictured at right reading the story in the school library, many of them wearing Iowa Hawkeye or basketball gear in anticipation of receiving the donated book. Submitted photos.