A Publ icat ion for the Res idents o f U t ica Communi ty
Schools
F CUSfor the community
College Bound, Bound for Success Christine M. Johns, Ed.D.
Optimistic and Inspiring, The Class of 2017 reflects our Confidence
in a Bright Future
Just ten short months ago, we welcomed the 2016-2017 school year
with a renewed sense of energy, commitment and a dedication to make
every day count.
As we close the year, that same optimism and focus remains as we
celebrate student success. It was never more evident than when we
celebrated the accomplishments of more than 2,250 graduates at UCS
graduation ceremonies.
The achievements alone of this graduation class are impressive:
nearly $28 million in scholarships to the best colleges and
universities in our state and nation.
This newsletter features the accomplishments of 178 valedictorians,
11 salutatorians and students who have demonstrated outstanding
achievement and community service as recipients of a
Superintendent’s Scholarship award, or have excelled in AVID and
Early College of Macomb programs.
Beyond these numbers and accomplishments is a greater story. It is
a story of tremendous growth and the type of individuals our
graduates have become.
UCS graduates are committed to their community. As students, they
have dedicated countless volunteer hours to supporting those in
need. They think globally, act ethically and care deeply about the
future they will soon lead.
This community should have a tremendous amount of pride in our
young adults and great confidence that they will be the ones that
affect change in the world.
We remain committed to our college culture and focused on
increasing the academic rigor for all of our students. The district
constantly looks at new ways that we can provide students the
skills and experiences that give them a competitive advantage for
their post-secondary experiences and professional lives.
The energy and excitement that characterized this entire year will
only continue to grow when we begin again on September 5.
Until then, I wish you and your families a relaxing and safe
summer.
District recognized for fiscal accountability For the fifth
straight year, Utica Community Schools has earned national
recognition for its commitment to meet high standards in reporting
financial information to its community.
The district has earned a Certificate of Excellence in Financial
Reporting for its 2015 - 2016 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
(CAFR) from the Association of School Business Officials
International (ASBO).
“This recognition reflects the district’s continued commitment to
fiscal accountability,” Board Treasurer Dr. Robert Ross said. “We
are focused on meeting the highest standards in providing our
taxpayers with comprehensive information on classroom
investment.”
These Ford Falcon valedictorians and salutatorians from Henry Ford
II High School are proudly representing Utica Community Schools
Class of 2017 – all 2,250 graduating seniors. Pictured here left to
right back row standing: Isabel Holtan, Vivian Nguyen, Elisabeth
Pettibone, Morgan Domzal, Shelby Thomas, Vince Nguyen, Daniel
Sumindan, Matthew Vedua, John Vulaj, Filip Matovski. Front row
kneeling: Teodora Vlad - Cristian, Polina Stoppa, Maria Akery,
Nikki Sorgi, Maureen Cronin, Alem Cizmic. Not pictured: Emily Karas
and Daniel Salar. See pages 3 and 4 for more about this year’s
class.
Sale of vacant building/ land provides UCS with one-time revenue
Utica Community Schools has completed the sale of a vacant
elementary school in Shelby Township to provide one-time revenue as
it addresses ongoing state funding shortfalls.
The sale of Ewell Elementary to St. Mina and Pope Kyrillos VI
Coptic Orthodox Church is one of three assets sold by Utica
Community Schools over the past three years.
Previously, the district sold two pieces of vacant land in
Washington and Shelby townships. The properties are being developed
in part with single family homes to support future
enrollment.
This school year the district realized $5.5 million in one- time
revenue.
The property sales will address revenue shortfalls resulting from
state revenue increases well below the rate of inflation over the
past ten years, and the redirection of school aid by Michigan
lawmakers to community colleges.
Mark Your Calendar First Day of School
Tuesday, September 5
2 FOCUS
Teachers of the Year Honored Three Utica Community Schools
educators were honored for driving instruction every day at a
special celebration held this spring. For one, that honor was
literal, thanks to the generous donation of a leased car from
Suburban Ford of Sterling Heights.
“In honoring our teachers of the year, we also honor what they
represent in our district - a commitment to excellence that can
literally span generations, the caring and dedication that provide
a solid foundation for success, and a focus on a high level of
student achievement and exemplary schools,” Superintendent Dr.
Christine Johns said. The UCS 2017 Teachers of the Year are:
Zita Burton from Havel Elementary Overall Utica Community Schools
Teacher of the Year and Elementary Teacher of the Year
Nicole West from Jeannette Junior High School Junior High School
Teacher of the Year
Scott Spry from Utica Center for Science and Industry High School
Teacher of the Year
Burton, recognized as the overall Teacher of the Year, has taught
upper elementary grades at Havel Elementary since 1977. She was
recently named the 2016 Elementary Economics Educator of the year
by the Michigan Council on Economic Education. In addition to a
40-year teaching career, Burton attended Utica Community Schools as
a student, graduating from Stevenson High School.
“Mrs. Burton has literally impacted generations of students through
her commitment to excellence, enthusiasm, deep roots in our
community, and continued dedication to children and their success,”
Dr. Johns said.
She was surprised with a new car lease courtesy of Suburban Ford.
“Our program of rewarding outstanding teachers is our way of
showing our gratitude to the dedicated individuals who contribute
so much to the development of our children,” said David Fischer,
Jr., General Manager of The Suburban Collection.
Pictured left to right: Nicole West, Scott Spry, Zita Burton and
Dr. Christine Johns
Points of Pride Olympiad teams excel in Science, Social Studies and
Math Students took top spots in three recent competitions that
require collaboration on a series of academic challenges that test
their science, math and social studies skills. During the Macomb
Science Olympiad, UCS teams took first and second places at all
three levels – elementary, junior high school and high school.
Elementary teams earned the top five finishes and eight of the top
ten spots with Messmore Elementary coming in first place. UCS
secondary teams earned the top two spots at the junior high and
high school regional competition in March. Davis Junior High placed
first and Heritage Junior High followed in second. Stevenson High
finished in first and Eisenhower placed second.
In the statewide Social Studies Olympiad, UCS teams earned 130 top
honors: 33 Gold Medals, 41 Silver Medals, 28 Bronze Medals and 28
Honorable Mentions at the May 13 annual competition. Participating
teams were from Beacon Tree, Beck, Browning, Burr, Crissman,
Ebeling, Graebner, Morgan, Oakbrook, Plumbrook, Schwarzkoff,
Switzer and Wiley elementary schools, Davis and Eppler junior high
schools and Stevenson High School. Nearly 80 schools from across
Michigan participated in the competition.
Fourth through sixth graders gathered May 4 for the annual UCS Math
Competition. More than 50 teams took part in three different
competitions, including a jeopardy-like tournament that rounded out
the night. Shayan Matin, a sixth grader at Schuchard Elementary
earned a first place individual event finish. Beck, Messmore and
Schuchard elementary teams placed first in the group events.
Teacher honored with Macomb County Make A Difference Award Chelsea
Laurencelle, elementary teacher for the Roberts Elementary Autism
Spectrum Classroom CORE, has been named a recipient of this year’s
Macomb County “Make a Difference” Award from the Macomb County
Parent Advisory Committee. She was honored at a special countywide
ceremony held May 23. The Macomb County Parent Advisory Committee
annually offers parents the oppor- tunity to nominate an educator
who has made a significant impact on their child’s school
experience. This is the eighth straight year UCS educators have
earned this award. Laura and Joe Viviano, parents of a student in
Roberts Elementary CORE program, nominated Laurencelle.
Principal Selected as Michigan Interscholastic Press Association’s
Administrator of the Year During the Michigan Interscholastic Press
Association’s (MIPA) Spring Awards luncheon Thomas Lietz, principal
at Utica High School, was honored as its 2017 Administrator of the
Year. Lietz was selected based on materials submitted to MIPA by
students and staff in Utica High’s journalism program including a
letter of recommendation written by senior Ethan Cartwright to the
MIPA committee. He accepted the honor along with UHS student
journalists and Stacy Smale, UHS yearbook and newspaper adviser,
during the awards luncheon in downtown Lansing.
District named Midwest’s only virtual reality Center of Excellence
zSpace, Inc., a Silicon Valley education company, has named Utica
Community Schools a Center of Excellence for its innovation and
leadership in providing students with lifelike learning experiences
through the use of augmented reality and virtual reality in
classrooms. Crissman, Ebeling, Monfort and Schwarzkoff students,
collaborate on activities ranging from exploring the inner workings
of the human heart to designing and building circuit boards or
examining the physics of the world’s tallest buildings – all in a
3D virtual environment. “We are proud to recognize Utica Community
Schools as a visionary member of the zSpace Center of Excellence
Program,” said Paul Kellenberger, zSpace CEO. “Education leaders,
such as Superintendent Dr. Johns and the district’s principals,
teachers and other educators, are embracing the power of today’s
powerful technologies to prepare their students for the
future.”
The Utica Academy for International Studies (UAIS), Henry Ford II,
Eisenhower, Utica and Stevenson high schools have been named among
the Most Academically Challenging High Schools by The Washington
Post.
“This recognition reflects the district’s focus to increase
rigorous opportunities for all students to support their
post-secondary success,” Superintendent Dr. Christine Johns
said.
For the fifth straight year, UAIS was ranked the state’s most
challenging high school. The International Baccalaureate program
was also ranked 38th nationally.
All UCS High Schools, UAIS Recognized Among the Nation’s Most
Academically Challenging Henry Ford II High School was ranked 28th
in Michigan and 1,865 nationally;
Eisenhower High School was ranked 30th in Michigan 2,034
nationally, Utica High School was ranked 32nd in Michigan and 2,077
nationally; and Stevenson High School was ranked 35th in Michigan
and 2,355 nationally.
Only 12 percent of the high schools that applied for consideration
– or approximately 2,400 schools nationwide – were ranked among the
most academically challenging through the Washington Post Challenge
Index.
The Washington Post Challenge Index identifies schools based on
student participation in rigorous academic programs, such as
Advanced Placement programs through the College Board and courses
authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organization.
Chelsea Laurencelle
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Eisenhower High School VALEDICTORIANS Abigail Allmacher Nicholas
Allston Alexis Angst Hannah Ayar Marisa Balsamo Claire Barnett
Pietro Biondo Juliet Cai Liliana Camaj Josephine Cipriano Brooke
Coleman Natalie Coltman Bronson Copacia Matthew DeLanoy Madeleine
Denton Giuseppe Di Maio Matthew Donahue Daniel Fletemier Maya
Gualtieri Ronald Haddad Jordan Jaklic Daniel Jarzyna Selena Kassab
Payton Kennelly Kevin Kraydich Grace Kulin Sydney Labon Isabella
LiCavoli Kayla Mandziara Bianka Matoski Kayla McKay Jenna Miller
Brandon Munn Madison Nacker Angelina Noll John Oben Suzanne Osinski
Kenadi Parise Zachary Pickell Morgan Plummer Tayah Polite Lily
Quinlan Jenna Rausch Emily Ribbing Natalie Rizza Mackenzie Robb
Adam Scott Angela Shehu Julia Siegle Alec Socha Trenton
Toyryla
Ethan Tremmel Lindsey Van Heusden Courtney VanOphem Kevin Wright
Mali Xiong Madylen Zweng
SALUTATORIAN Antonio Segura
Henry Ford II High School VALEDICTORIANS Maria Akery Alem Cizmic
Maureen Cronin Isabel Holtan Emily Karas Filip Matovski Vince
Nguyen Vivian Nguyen Elisabeth Pettibone Daniel Salar Nikki Sorgi
Daniel Sumindan Shelby Thomas Matthew Vedua John Vulaj
SALUTATORIANS Morgan Domzal Polina Stoppa Teodora
Vlad-Cristian
Stevenson High School VALEDICTORIANS Ava Bayagich Julia Beleshi
Gabrielle Brakoniecki Nicole Brown Shannon Carr Luke Chrisman Nina
Darwich Sarah Dickey Michael Dolan Paul Hampel Jack Imesch Thomas
Jacob Jonethan James Andrew Joseph Daniella Keith Robert Leone Sean
Lusky Amanda McKeon Michael Micakovic
Umme Mirza Vanessa Najjar Nishy Ninan Nikita Patel Shubh Patel
Michael Rakowiecki Atishay Singh Aditya Vageesh Giulio Vario
SALUTATORIANS Rachel Kubiak Manraj Singh
Utica High School VALEDICTORIANS Kaley Brenizer Alexis Burrows
Julia Candela Tyler Carrier Isabella Catalano Gurjiwan Chahal
Brooke Chmiel Nicholas Day Charlene Dukes Garrett Guglielmetti
Taran Heersma Emily Hermann Alena Jalics Melinda Kamil Danielle
Kaschalk Alexa Kessen Lyndsey Lavelle Joseph Lico Andreea Micu
Madeleine Motloch Tyler Newton Rana Noori Mallory Rusk Hanna Sala
Kathryn Seib Vita Simmons Olivia Stefanovich Haley Weber Connor
Willcock Tyler Wundrach Dylan Yono
SALUTATORIANS Makenna Galui Sydney Kleiner Cody Mancini Kimberly
Slifco
Utica Academy of International Studies VALEDICTORIANS Ashley Beatty
Joshua Bentley Carmella Boykin Victoria Branch Mackenzie Connell
Jonathan Dang Damaris Derecichei Candy Dialogo Shirley ElFishawy
Aber Espinoza Kaelyn Fife Ziyaneh Ghaderpour Taleghani Ina Gjoka
Jessica Gougeon Allison Griffiths Bradley Hall Corinne Herrmann
Jessica Hone Jeffrey Horbatiuk Benjamin Hume Sahil Jha Kelsie
Johnston Nikhita Khosa Katie Kirkum Thea Kirsch-Mangu Katerina
Kitsios Megan Kujawa Lisette LeMerise Joana Lepuri Zuzanna
Lutrzykowska Julia Malewicz Rithin Manimaleth Anthony Neubacher
Hannah Paul Pietro Pellerito Sydney Quagliato Mikayla Rzeppa
Patrycja Sobierajska Felicia Soderberg Leah Stampfer Roksolana
Sudyk Collin Syler Pragya Thakur Ava Thielman Febin Thomas Heather
Wagner Jennifer Yoo
SALUTATORIAN Annette Varga
Stevenson High School Damon Alexander Yousif AlKhreef Hira Ansari
Elena Azis Jenica Barger Jacobi Brown Henry Campoverde Crystal
Chacko Hassan Chowdhury Abigail Cousineau Doviron Dado Brenden
Datema Deanna Dickow Malik Faronbi Julianna George Sabrina Glavan
Daren Gross Kristina Habbo Joanne Hakim Flowrita Halaq Sarina
Harrison Tyler Hills Migena Hysa Matt Issa Katelyn Jaboro Courtney
Jackson Silvia Karana Derius Kelley Jacob Lage Dezmond Lance Mary
Mekha Wisam Mikho Nicole Nguyen Michael Northup Ashley Pater
Abigail Praet Madison Reyntens Elias Romaya Joseph Ross Luisa
Sterbyci Joanne Tamou Taylor Weidner Aaron Williams III Adela Zeka
Utica High School Nathan Achatz Colin Baker Roza Deda Steven Djelaj
Emily Earls Emily Edwards Carl Elder Andreana Ljucovic Peter Marki
Natalie Maroof Santiago Martinez Chase Miller Omaure Miller Cameron
Mitchell Dylan Scott Salvador Serrano Stephanie Shaddock Cassandra
Zamora Kaylee Zotos
Utica Community Schools Class of 2017 Graduates of the class of
2017 have been outstanding throughout their educational career in
Utica Community Schools.
During early June, UCS graduated a total of 2,250 students. This
includes 621 from Eisenhower, 610 from Stevenson, 446 students from
Henry Ford II, 377 from Utica High, 109 from Adult Education and
Utica Alternative Learning Center and 87 students from Utica
Academy for International Studies.
The Board of Education recognized 595 of the graduates as UCS
Academic Scholars for having maintained a high school career GPA of
3.67 or above while taking part in extracurricular or community
service activities.
A Seal of Global Language was awarded to 174 graduates who have a
demonstrated level of proficiency in both English Language Arts and
a World Language.
For complete profiles on all the graduates listed in this edition,
please visit the online version of FOCUS for the Community at
UticaK12.org/Newsletter
Also available in the UCS App News Section
AVID Scholars AVID develops the necessary skills for taking
rigorous courses, such as AP and Honors, to promote success in
college.
(586) 797-1000
BOARD OF EDUCATION Gene L. Klida, President Michele Templeton, Vice
President Jennifer L. Prybys, Secretary Robert A. Ross, Ph.D.,
Treasurer Ken Krolczyk, Trustee Mary K. Thomas, Ph.D.,Trustee
Denyeal Nesovski, Trustee
Christine M. Johns, Ed.D. Superintendent
FOCUS for the Community Editors: Tim McAvoy Nancy Kort
www.uticak12.org
Find updates from Utica Community Schools on: In compliance with
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education
Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title II of the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990, the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act and
the Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act, it is the policy of
Utica Community Schools that no person shall, on the basis of race,
color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, disability,
height, weight, or marital status be excluded from participation
in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination
during any instructional opportunities, programs, services, job
placement assistance, employment or in policies governing student
conduct and attendance. Any person suspecting a discriminatory
practice should contact the Assistant Superintendent for Human
Resources at Utica Community Schools, 11303 Greendale, Sterling
Heights, MI 48312 or call (586) 797-1000.
Notice of Nondiscrimination
4 FOCUS
UCS District Calendar 2017-2018 September 5 First Day of School
Elementary Half Day Secondary Full Day
October 12 Parent Conferences Secondary Half Day
October 31 Elementary Half Day Secondary Full Day
November 7 No School
November 27 School Resumes
January 3 School Resumes
January 24 Secondary Exams Elementary Full Day Secondary Half
Day
January 25 Secondary Exams All Students Half Day
January 26 Secondary Exams All Students Half Day
February 19 Mid-Winter Break Begins No School
February 26 School Resumes
April 2 Spring Break Begins No School
April 9 School Resumes
May 28 Memorial Day No School
June 13 Secondary Exams Elementary Full Day Secondary Half
Day
June 14 Secondary Exams All Students Half Day
June 15 Last Day of School Secondary Exams All Students Half
Day
UCS Foundation for Educational Excellence 2017 Superintendent’s
Scholarship Recipients
Utica Alternative Learning Center MaKyla DeRue Superintendent’s
Dalton Vargason Superintendent’s Mark Zora Superintendent’s
Eisenhower High School Gabe Bosco Superintendent’s Jordan Jaklic
Superintendent’s Sydney Labon Superintendent’s Madison Nacker
Superintendent’s Zachary Pickell Altair STEM Anthony Russo
Superintendent’s Antonio Segura Superintendent’s Aleaha Smith
Superintendent’s Emerson Wigand Superintendent’s Henry Ford II High
School Kerestin Aziz Superintendent’s Ryan Barkley Superintendent’s
Kaitlin Bedenko Superintendent’s
Sanya Bency Superintendent’s Justin Bennie Superintendent’s Aaron
Ferdinande Superintendent’s Isabel Holtan Superintendent’s
Elisabeth Pettibone Altair STEM Alexander Rowe Brett Klenow Polina
Stoppa Superintendent’s John Vulaj Superintendent’s Cameron Walker
Superintendent’s Stevenson High School Alyssa Baginski
Superintendent’s Deanna Dickow Superintendent’s Fatima Elzhenni
Superintendent’s Nicholas Holly Superintendent’s Michael Hromada
Superintendent’s Nora Micakaj Superintendent’s Christiana Strong
Superintendent’s
Thanks to the UCS Foundation for Educational Excellence and other
community organizations, the Superintendent’s Scholarship program,
now in its 8th year, provided $53,500 in awards to 44 graduates.
Since the inception of the scholarship program with the class of
2010, the foundation has provided more than $220,000 in
scholarships to UCS graduates.
Utica Academy for International Studies Kaelyn Fife
Superintendent’s Allyson John Superintendent’s Joana Lepuri
Superintendent’s Felicia Soderberg Superintendent’s Utica High
School Anthony Asgarally Stefan’s Hope Joshua Cutway Stefan’s Hope
Roza Deda Superintendent’s Charlene Dukes Superintendent’s Charles
Fromm Superintendent’s Alena Jalics Superintendent’s Danielle
Kaschalk Superintendent’s Lyndsey Lavelle Superintendent’s Tyler
Newton Steve Messina CTE
Early College of Macomb UCS Graduates
Eisenhower High Gabe Bosco John Buczak Davion Clark Dominic Fornari
Jordan Jaklic Brennan Krolczyk Brenda Mansour Jesse O’Rourke
EmmaLee Peretto Tayah Polite
Henry Ford II High Kristen Beaupre Aliyah Bradley Kiera Briney
Tyler Kasmikha Ava Mankiewicz Matthew Martus Shyane Onciu Daniel
Salar Christopher Seman Tanaz Sidhu
Stevenson High Steven Clark-Terlescki Joseph DiFranco Garrett
Douglas Austin Garcia Ethan Hahn Allison Petersen Alicia Puentes
Atheer Shaya Valerie Villavicencio Amanda Yaxley
Utica High Katie Anderson Isabella Catalano Avy Cordero Colton
Gamrat Angelica Harris
Ivan Kesto Cody Mancini Noah Minard Rana Noori Michael Osborn
Left to right: Front row: Roza Deda, Christiana Strong, Sanya
Bency, Kaitlin Bedenko, Allyson John, Sydney Labon, Lyndsey
Lavelle. Second row: Linda Colton, Sue Chown, Steve Truman, Michele
Templeton, Gene Klida, Dr. Christine Johns, Robert VanCamp, Dan
Wesner, Bob Wilcox, Lester Gilbert. Third row: Isabel Holtan,
Felicia Soder- berg, Anthony Asgarally, Justin Bennie, Alexander
Rowe, Gabe Bosco, Antonio Segura. Fourth row: Zachary Pickell,
Aaron Ferdinande, Dalton Vargason, Cameron Walker, Joshua Cutway,
Charles Fromm, Michael Hromada, Emerson Wigand, Anthony Russo.
Fifth row: Ryan Barkley, Elisabeth Pettibone, Nora Micakaj, Jordan
Jaklic, Madison Nacker, Deanna Dickow, Charlene Dukes, MaKyla
DeRue, Alena Jalics