Utica Center for Math, Science, and Technology
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Utica Center for Mathematics, Science, and Technology (UCMST) | |
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| Established | August of 1996 |
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| School type | Public magnet school |
| Grades | 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th |
| Counselor | Janet Kent |
| Location | Sterling Heights, Michigan, United States |
| Students | approximately 280 |
| Mascot | ThunderChickens |
| Website | UCMST |
Contents |
[edit] Warning To Incoming 8th Graders
All students of MST are made to give up their soul to at least 2-3 hours of homework every night. Most students would tell you that "only" 2 hours of homework is actually somewhat of a treat! Please refer to the sacrifices list below:
FRESHMAN YEAR: CHOOSE 2 THINGS
-homework
-social life
-sleep
SOPHOMORE YEAR: CHOOSE 2 THINGS
-homework
-social life
-sleep
JUNIOR YEAR: CHOOSE 2 THINGS
-homework
-social life
-job
-sleep
SENIOR YEAR: CHOOSE 1 THING
-homework
-social life
-job
-sleep
[edit] 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. Students are selected in the spring of their eighth grade year for sacrifice. Though UCMST is a public school, enrollment is limited, and applicants are required to give up their soul. 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 NCSSSMST.
[edit] 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)
[edit] 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 either Calculus AB or Calculus BC and also have the option of selecting one science class (along with AP Chemistry) from AP Biology and AP Physics.
[edit] Class List
9th: Advanced Algebra II/Geometry, Accelerated Chemistry, C++ Programming, and Statistics/Design of Experiments (DOE)
10th: Analysis, Biochemistry/Foundations of Research, Advanced Biology
11th: Foundations of Calculus (Pre-calculus), Physics, AP Java Programming
12th: AP Calculus (AB or BC), Chemistry, AP/Physics OR AP/Biology AP.
[edit] The Wall of Fame
The Wall of Fame, located outside the freshmen/sophmore 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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, 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.).
Another fun activity at UCMST is editing this very wikipedia page. Instead of doing their C++ programs, some students find it extremely funny to make numerous edits to this page. However, unless the student making the edits is Dan Rodak, then the edits made will be totally unfunny.
[edit] Sports
MST does not offer any athletic programs due to the fact that the UCMST is a partial-day program. Instead, students are able to participate in the sports of their home schools (Eisenhower High School, Ford II High School, Stevenson High School, and Utica High School). However, the FIRST Robotics program 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.
[edit] Integrity
Teachers volunteer their own time in order to provide doughnuts on Mondays, bagels on Wednesdays, and pizza on Fridays. Integrity is a core value to the students at the UCMST. It is the responsibility of the student to pay for the food that he or she takes. All students' lockers are kept unlocked at all times.
On December 4th, 2006, it was noted that a few unknown students had stolen approximately $40 from the money box. MAC (The MST Activities Council) decided that all vending machine and food day privileges would be temporarily revoked as punishment. Pizza Day was cancelled on December 8th, 2006, the first time in the history of MST.
[edit] Fire Alarm Hot Dogs
In the 2005 and 2006 school years, the students of the UCMST have been treated to what has been come to be known as Fire Alarm Hot Dogs. A fake fire drill is called, and as the students file outside to complete the drill, they are greeted with a venerable cornucopia of hot dogs and condiments.
[edit] Lock-ins
A new UCMST event as of 2006, the students arrive at the building around 9:00 PM and are not allowed to leave until 6:00 AM (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, on the first lock-in, and the rolling chair relay race, 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, and other popular multiplayer 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 are served in the main hall. The students leave at 6:00 AM.
