Utica Community Schools offers many unique opportunities to students.  These opportunities allow students to explore different educational and extracurricular pathways throughout their time in the school district.  The main difficulty that the district experienced was making students aware of these various programs, so the district and the Superintendent Student Advisory Board created an event called the Academic Blitz.  However, this year begins an exciting rebranding to emphasize the many opportunities or “pathways” available to students with the new name: Pathways to Success: Personalize Your Journey Forward.

Many people associate this event as solely for junior high students to learn more about the specialty high school, but the event offers many other opportunities!  Sessions are open to all elementary, junior high, and high school students where students can attend sessions that are specific to their grade level.  High School students have great opportunities including learning more about Naviance, Getting Set for College, and Advanced Placement Opportunities!

This event is important to UAIS school because it provides an unique opportunity to present ourselves to all prospective students in the district.  In fact, many current UAIS students were drawn to this program because of this event.  One of these students is junior Ajané Smith:

“At the time, I was deciding whether I wanted to go to MST or UAIS for the rest of my high school career. After going to Academic Blitz, I was able to see that Utica Academy for International Studies was the place for me, leading to several academic advantages and putting me on the path to success.”

Many students go into the Pathways to Success event questioning their high school journey.  UCS offers so many amazing opportunities including the Center for Science and Industry,  the Center for Mathematics, Science and Technology, Stevenson Center for Manufacturing, Automation, and Design Engineering, and the Gene L. Kilda Utica Academy for International Studies.  Every program has a presentation at the event, and these presentations are known to help student select what program they want to attend.  Many current UAIS students, including senior Ongkon Deb, still vividly remember that presentation: “I still remember all the panelists and Mr. Layson from the UAIS presentation.”

Many UAIS students also help present many of the sessions.  One of these students are junior Zoey Brookbanks.  As a leader for the FIRST Robotics team, she has attended the event as both a presenter and attendee where she has seen the benefit of the event. “I was deeply inspired by many of the speakers, and felt like I gained clarity for several questions I had about high school, and the college application process. I would encourage everyone to attend, as this event offers direct insight into your education.”

This event will be held virtually for the first time.  This means that if you cannot attend the event, you can re-watch sessions afterward.  It is highly recommended that all current students and parents attend this event.  The Pathways to Success event will be held Thursday March 4th, 6-9pm.  Follow this link for a complete list of offerings at the event:  https://www.uticak12.org/news/what_s_new/UCSPathways

Also please register for the event by following this link: https://www.accelevents.com/e/PathwaystoSuccess

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