Utica Center for Math, Science, and Technology

Enrollment
The Utica Center for Mathematics, Science, and Technology (UCMST) is a four-year public non-residential magnet school located at the Joan C. Sergent Instructional Resource Center (IRC) in Sterling Heights, Michigan. The school is in the Utica Community School District. The school accepts rising freshmen from across the Utica Community School District and enrolls them through senior year. Though UCMST is a public school, enrollment is limited. The selection of the top 60-70 students from applicants is determined by academic record, performance on achievement and aptitude tests (which include a test in mathematics, science abilities, abstract and logical reasoning, and spatial relationships), and a letter of intent. UCMST is a member of the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science and Technology.

Achievement
• National Merit: UCMST has had 19 National Merit Scholars over the past 3 years.

• 81% of the class are members of the National Honor Society.

• FIRST Robotics team finished TOP TEN in the nation two of the past four years.

• FIRST Robotics team won the National Championship in 2006.

• Michigan Math Prize Competition: UCMST ranked 6th in Michigan with 42 finalists (state average is 3 per school).

• Michigan Competitive Scholarship – 100% of all seniors had qualifying scores for the Michigan Competitive Scholarship.

• American Mathematics Competition – UCMST ranked 8th in Michigan and 22nd in Region 4. (Michigan, Ohio, Indiana)

Curriculum
Students attend the center for half of their school day to complete their science courses, and then travel back to their home school to take their humanities classes. Seniors and freshmen attend MST in the mornings while juniors and sophomores attend in the afternoon sessions. Each student takes three courses each year. In their freshmen year, students rotate between C++ Programming and Statistics/Design of Experiments (DOE) every other day. During their senior year, students are given the opportunity to take Calculus BC and two science classes (selected from AP Chemistry, AP Biology and AP Physics).

Class List
9th: Advanced Algebra II/Geometry, Accelerated Chemistry, C++ Programming

10th: Analysis, Biochemistry/Foundations of Research, Advanced Biology

11th: Foundations of Calculus (Pre-calculus), Physics, AP Java Programming

12th: AP Calculus BC, and a choice of two from either AP Chemistry, AP Physics and AP Biology.

The Wall of Fame
The Wall of Fame, located outside the freshmen/sophomore math class, is the wall which showcases MST's finest. Students who are granted this honorary award are given plaques which are then placed on the designated wall. Membership is granted only after a student has:

- Received a score higher than 110 on the AMC-12/Above a 5 on the AIME

- Received a 33 or higher on the math portion of the ACT/higher than a 770 on the SAT math section

- Received a 5 on the Calculus BC AP test

- Passed the first round of the Michigan Mathematics Prize Competition

Currently the wall has eight members: Christina Falcone, Deepak Mishra, Jeffery Zylinski, Ryan Wolcott, Edward Weng, Scott Wolchok, Nick Lafrenz, Samantha Spath.

Internships
All juniors are given a chance to experience a career in a chosen professional setting. Recent internships include: genetics at Henry Ford Hospital, vascular surgery at St. John’s Hospital, engineering at FANUC Robotics, computer engineering at gedas Volkswagen, anthropology at the Cranbrook Institute of Science, and engineering design at the Ford Michigan Proving Ground. Each student will make a formal presentation of his or her experience to the school and to the community.

MST Activities
The UCMST Students are highly involved in a full range of co-curricular and extracurricular activities at their home schools (Eisenhower High School, Henry Ford II High School, Stevenson High School, and Utica High School) such as: varsity/junior varsity athletics, music, theater, debate, and student government.

Additionally, students have shown their technological creativity through the UCMST Media Club which produces the Center’s newsletter, the Tachyon; the Center’s DVD yearbook, the Abstract; and annual promotional videos. The very successful FIRST Robotics team offers an excellent experience in computers, engineering, problem solving, and teamwork. Students can also join MAC (MST Activities Council). Much like student government, it is in charge of decorations, various charity drives, and the planning of the MST events (such as MST movie nights, lock-ins, and etc.).

Lock-ins
A new UCMST event as of 2006, the students arrive at the building around 9:00 p.m. and are not allowed to leave until 6:00 a.m. (on a non-school night, of course), unless a given student must leave. The entry fee is $10 per student (to pay for the custodial fees, food, and prizes) and must be paid for before the lock-in night. The lock-ins consist of math games, chemistry games, and rolling chair relay races, with prizes ranging from candy bars to gift cards for each game. After the games, students are allowed to roam the two presentation rooms. In one presentation room, students may participate in projector screen Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero, Halo, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and other popular multi player games, or they could play cards, karaoke, and fun board games. In the next presentation room, students can watch movies or nap if they feel too tired. In the hall between the two rooms, a few students had a CS 1.5 LAN. Free snacks, consisting of pizza, pop, and miscellaneous desserts brought in by students, are served in the main hall.

Pi Day
Every March 14th (3/14) since the founding of MST there is an annual celebration of pi day. Class ends early and there is a pi recitation contest. The contestants must recite, from memory, as many digits of pi they can. Afterward students eat pie they brought in.


 * 2007 Competition
 * Freshman Winner: Stephanie Godden, with 418 digits of pi.
 * Sophomore Winner: Jonathan Bezenah, with 300 digits of pi.
 * Junior Winner: Chris Sigler with 520 digits of pi, the current school record.
 * Senior Winner: Douglas Rottmann, with 213 digits of pi.

Sports
MST does not offer any athletic programs because the UCMST is a partial-day program. Instead, students are able to participate in the sports of their home schools (Eisenhower High School, Utica High School, Henry Ford II High School, Stevenson High School). However, the FIRST Robotics competition team, the Thunderchickens, is an emphasized part of the center's curriculum. The freshmen have a field trip to the Friday preliminaries of the Detroit FIRST Regional, and all students are given cards that they can turn in to certain mentors on Saturday for extra credit.

Camp Echo Grove
One activity that is unique to the freshman class is a trip to Camp Echo Grove near the beginning of the school year. At the camp, students are put into groups where they learn the importance of teamwork and good communication through activities designed by the camp. This experience helps freshman get to know each other better, and, through the activities, teaches essential lessons for success.