Utica Center for Science and Industry earns another top state honor

Utica Center for Science and Industry (UCSI) has earned one of only three Excellence in Practice Awards from the Michigan Department of Education for its exemplary efforts to promote college and career readiness.

“The Utica Center for Science and Industry students and staff should be proud of its continued recognition as a program that delivers on its promise to connect academics with real-world applications,” Utica Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Christine Johns said. “Our program has been held up as a national leader in promoting skills that colleges and businesses identify as critical for the next generation of industry leaders.”

To be honored with an Excellence in Practice Award, Career and Technical Education programs must demonstrate outstanding outcomes and produce measurable results for students while maintaining academic rigor. Award winning programs provide excellent support for career and college planning and high expectations, while linking secondary education to work-based learning, college and careers.

“Career and Technical Education is helping our state meet the very real and immediate challenges of student achievement, career and college readiness, and global competitiveness,” said State Superintendent Mike Flanagan.

This is the second major state award earned by Utica Center for Science and Industry this year. Earlier, the program was named to the Michigan Association of School Administrators Winners’ Circle. It was also featured by NBC News as part of its national EducationNation initiative.Utica Center for Science and Industry has also been honored for educational excellence by Automation Alley and the Michigan Association of School Boards. 

Program OverviewUtica Center for Science and Industry is successfully preparing students for the challenges of college and career. It is a half-day magnet program where students study the technical areas of engineering technology, mechatronics or multimedia production along with the core content areas of English and mathematics. 

UCSI is a dynamic, unique learning environment where students flourish amid technology, collaboration and creativity. Ninety-eight percent of its graduates have gone on to postsecondary study and UCSI students earned half the positions in the prestigious new Michigan Advanced Technology Training program (MAT2). 

Students in UCSI experience substantial and meaningful integration of English and math in the technical pathways. This academic integration occurs in projects small and large, such as the “Dashboard Project,” which challenged students to research, design and present a functional and visually appealing virtual automotive dashboard to help drivers reduce fuel consumption.