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City High’s Matisse Arnone will ‘change a community for the better’
Arnone will attend University of Vermont to pursue environmental policy
IOWA CITY — During his time at City High School, Matisse Arnone has found a way to leave a positive impact on both his school and the Iowa City community.
Arnone, 18, has been involved in various initiatives and clubs at City High revolving around the environment, politics, music and giving back to the community. Come fall, he plans to continue exploring these interests by pursuing environmental policy at the University of Vermont.
“I like being able to see that you're making a difference in the community,” Arnone said.
Arnone was among the students who helped organize and host an Earth Day event earlier this year, for the second year, in downtown Iowa City. The student-organized event allowed community members to pick up wildflower seeds, make bird feeds, paint biodegradable planters and plant vegetables to take home.
“With the Earth Day event, … the most impactful thing to me is seeing little kids being able to learn about the environment, which is something that I'm passionate about,” Arnone said.
Arnone is one of 330 students who mark their graduation at 1 p.m. June 4 from City High School at the Xtream Arena in Coralville’s Iowa River Landing.
Passion for music
Arnone has been involved in music activities at City High including choir, show choir, band and marching band, among others. He has been involved with music from a young age, playing piano since he was 6 and being in band since the fifth grade, playing the French horn.
“Both my parents being musicians really made me involved musically,” Arnone said, adding that his dad is a cello professor at the University of Iowa and his mom is a professional cellist.
Having lived in Iowa City his whole life, Arnone is also looking forward to living on the East Coast and meeting new people when he gets to college
Interest in politics
In addition to music, Arnone wanted to get involved in other activities at City High. He joined Student Senate and revamped a young Democrats group called Political Action Club. Arnone has helped with voter registration drives and brought in local and state politicians as guest speakers, among other efforts.
Matisse Arnone with Christina Bohannan and Adan Zabner. Bohannan was the Democratic nominee in Iowa's 2nd Congressional District last year but lost to incumbent Mariannette Miller-Meeks. Zabner won his race and currently represents House District 90. (Submitted)
Matisse Arnone with Deidre DeJear, who was the Democratic nominee in last year's governor race. DeJear lost to Gov. Kim Reynolds. (Submitted)
Ali Borger-Germann, English teacher at City High and adviser of Political Action Club, said what stands out about Arnone is that he is a self-starter -- adding that Political Action Club “was entirely his brainchild from start to finish.”
“At one point, I was so impressed with his expertise and understanding that I asked him to come and teach one of my classes — we were discussing the literacies involved in politics,” Borger-Germann said. “He and a friend of his led my students through a ‘politics 101’ lesson that I will keep in rotation for years to come.”
Arnone also joined Interact Club, which is a club that focuses on volunteering and community service.
Earlier this month, Arnone was among 42 area youths honored at the annual human rights youth awards ceremony from the city’s Human Rights Commission. Students were selected based on their contribution to human rights causes.
Someone who will ‘change a community for the better’
Environmental and gardening club “has been one of the most influential clubs for me,” Arnone said. He initiated a composting program at City High, which he said is one of the first in the district, and helped create a school garden.
Mary Lestina, an Advanced Placement environmental science teacher and adviser for environmental and garden club, said Arnone is a motivated, caring leader.
“I am certain that Matisse will bring great things to anything that he chooses to be involved in,” Lestina said. “He is a student who will change a community for the better.”
Arnone has also worked with the city of Iowa City on climate resiliency efforts and was invited to go to Washington, D.C., with the organization Schools for Climate Action to advocate in favor of a resolution to teach climate change in schools.
“We got to meet with legislators, legislative staff, stand outside the Capitol, go to all the offices and an advocate for this bill,” Arnone said. “Seeing that was inspiring to me. That's the area that I want my life to go in right now.”
Comments: (319) 339-3155; izabela.zaluska@thegazette.com
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