UCS senior is Macomb County’s sole National Merit Scholarship Recipient
A Utica Community Schools senior is among only 2,500 students nationally and more than 70 graduates statewide to be named National Merit scholarship winners.
Adeline Paul, of the Gene L. Klida Utica Academy for International Studies, has earned a $2,500 scholarship through the National Merit Corporation. She is the only Macomb County student to receive this prestigious honor.
She also attended Malow Junior High School, Crissman Elementary and Graebner Elementary.
Future teacher credits UALC for opening doors to her dream
What a difference two years make.
In 2023, senior Rachel Rodriguez was struggling in school and her dream of becoming a teacher was beginning to fade in the face of the growing costs of college.
Now, the Utica Alternative Learning Center is graduating with a Utica Community Schools diploma and a full ride scholarship to Oakland University.
Michigan Tech invests in CSI Leading Scholars
The Utica Center for Science and Industry conti nues to be at the head of the class for Michigan Technological University. The northern Michigan university has awarded UCSI seniors Ryan Miller, Elijah McCoy and Nolan Roessler its top scholarship – the Leading Scholars.
“I feel like this scholarship recognizes who I am as a person,” said Miller, who also attends Henry Ford II High School and plans to study computer science. “They assess you on whether you are a good pick for Michigan Tech, and it shows that I will fit in there.”
UCS seniors represent more than half of Macomb's top graduates
Utica Community Schools had a great night at the 2025 All-Academic Team banquet with our graduates representing 50 percent or better in the honors awarded that evening. Students were selected as among the county’s “best and brightest” in the county and were honored at a dinner on Tuesday night.
UCS had 30 of 61 students selected for the All-Academic Team. In addition, the program honored 25 students as the top graduates in the county. UCS had 13 of 25 students selected for this All-Academic Dream Team.
UCS School to Work a "gamechanger" for student entrepreneur
While most high school students juggle homework and extracurriculars, Eisenhower senior Gavin Brecht is balancing something a bit different—running his own landscaping business.
“My day starts at school, but right after class I’m in the office catching up on everything that came in while I was gone,” Brecht said. “That could be a phone call, a job estimate that came in online, or dispatching someone to a site.”
Brecht rents office space from his uncle and keeps his equipment in a nearby storage lot. His landscaping company takes jobs in both Macomb and Oakland counties. Every job estimate is completed online, which makes it easier for customers to request landscaping or lawn care services on the go especially while Brecht is in school.
UCS senior earns entry into Air Force Academy
How does it feel when a childhood dream comes true?
“I think I'm still trying to come to terms with it,” according to Utica Community Schools senior Jordan Fernandez. “I think it is because it is so surreal.”
The childhood dream that came true for Fernandez is acceptance into the prestigious U.S. Air Force Academy – an honor normally awarded to only 14 percent of the applicants.
Graduating seniors receive nearly $40,000 in scholarships to pursue post-secondary education
Community partners of Utica Community Schools have awarded 37 graduating seniors with a scholarship ranging from $500 to $2,000 to continue their education at a trade school, community college or university.
To be considered for a scholarship, graduating seniors were asked to submit an application which was reviewed by school and district administration, as well as UCS community partners. Select seniors were then also interviewed before final recipients were announced.
Henry Ford II swimmer earns state championship
This year an amazing swimmer at Henry Ford II High School achieved unbelievable success at the MHSAA D2 State Championships at Oakland University on March 15th. At this championship, senior Maximus Dexter won first in the 50-yard freestyle event and second in the 100-yard freestyle event. Dexter has been the first state champion at Henry Ford II since the 1980’s.
An amazing journey – Emancipated/homeless UCS senior earns full ride to University of Notre Dame
It is much more than the luck of the Irish that has led Utica Community Schools senior Nicholas Slaughter to earn a full-ride scholarship to University of Notre Dame.
It is persistence, hard work, faith and the support of his school friends and staff that has led the emancipated minor and current Gene L. Klida Utica Academy for International Studies senior to begin studying civil engineering at Notre Dame next fall.
AVID pays off with full ride scholarships for seven Stevenson seniors
There is a consistent theme from seven Stevenson seniors who are receiving full ride scholarships next year – AVID has truly paid off for them. MORE.
UCS CTE Students of the Year
Two Utica Community Schools seniors were named Macomb County Career and Technical Education students of the year.
Anastazija Grubac, of Stevenson High School, and Alexander Madhloom, of Eisenhower High School, were honored Friday at the Macomb Career Technical Education Administrators Association’s 35th Annual Awards Celebration.
Two UCS seniors named among state's best student journalists
Two Utica Community Schools seniors are named among the best student journalists in Michigan.
Ava Nightingale, of Eisenhower High School, and Natalie Rubel, of Henry Ford II High School, have been named among a select number of students to the Student Journalist Staff by the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association (MIPA).
