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Johnson County graduates have persevered, look forward to pursuing their dreams
Thousands of students are graduating from Eastern Iowa high schools this month. The Gazette is featuring graduating seniors from six Johnson County high schools this week. Eight Linn County high school graduates were featured in print and online May 21.
The students were chosen by school staff, including their principals, teachers and school counselors. The Gazette asked for students who represent the diversity in Eastern Iowa, including students from different cultural backgrounds, those with different career goals or students who have overcome a challenge or obstacle in their education.
Ahmed Kunate, Clear Creek Amana
Ahmed Kunate wants to embrace technology, specifically artificial intelligence, which he said has the power to automate tasks such as writing code to create a website. He’ll do that as a student at Kirkwood Community College this fall. The Clear Creek Amana graduating senior moved to the U.S. from Ghana in 2016, four years after his parents immigrated to Iowa. His teachers said Kunate has shown respect for others, curiosity about his classes, and a “goofy” sense of humor.
Matisse Arnone, City High School
Matisse Arnone’s passion for causes “will change a community for the better,” one teacher said. The City High graduating senior’s care for the environment drove him to co-found an annual Earth Day event in Iowa City, he’s found ways to share his interest in politics with other students, and his love of music has led him to participate in choir, show choir, band and marching band. He’s taking those passions to Vermont next year to study environmental policy.
Karen and Ketshia Lubanda, Liberty High School
Twin sisters Karen and Ketshia Lubanda will graduate from Liberty High School together, and this fall they’ll enroll at Kirkwood Community College together, both planning to pursue a career in medicine. The sisters, who moved to Iowa from South Africa in 2016, are described as motivated and determined to persevere, especially following a car crash earlier this year that killed their mother and injured them, their father and a brother.
Cole Bruxvoort, West High School
Cole Bruxvoort found his work ethic through years of baseball practices and games. After graduating from West High next month, he plans to apply that work ethic in classes at Kirkwood Community College, where he’ll pursue a career in carpentry, an interest that was sparked in elective classes in high school.
Gabby Williams, Tate High School
At just 16 years old, Gabby Williams has big plans for her future. The Tate High graduating senior plans to attend Kirkwood Community College in the fall to pursue communications, with dreams of becoming a voice actor. She’s made the most of her year at Tate, joining student council and starting a dance club. She’s “a ray of light,” one teacher said.
Heloisa Sader, Regina High School
Heloisa Sader was new to the United States when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020. Just months earlier, she’d moved from Brazil to Iowa City to live with her aunt and finish high school. The pandemic was difficult for the Regina High School graduating senior — she wasn’t able to see her parents, who still live in Brazil, for two years. Once school returned in-person, Sader got more involved, participating in math club and a musical production at school, and volunteering in the community.
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