UCS students among Macomb CTE Students of the Year

Two Utica Community Schools seniors were named Macomb County Career and Technical Education students of the year.
Kyle Mecum, of Eisenhower High School, and Khrystyna Zakharkiv, of Stevenson High School, were honored Friday at the Macomb Career Technical Education Administrators Association’s 34th Annual Awards Celebration.
Karen Polisei, an Occupational Therapist at the Macomb Intermediate School District, was also honored at a UCS Business Partner.

Below are write ups on the honorees:
Kyle Mecum
Eisenhower High School
Grade 12
CTE Program Cybersecurity & Digital Multimedia
Nominating Teacher: Douglass Hartley
Kyle is a highly motivated student who has a passion for computing. He took Webpage Development I, as a junior, where he went above and beyond for all his projects.
Kyle’s creativity and curiosity led him to look up new programming concepts to add animations, audio, and themes to his websites, which goes beyond the curriculum. Kyle also excels in the Cybersecurity class and acts as a resource for students. His peers trust his instincts and often want to partner with him for group work. When needed, Kyle seeks advice on other technology-related concepts such as PC repair. He has disassembled his personal computer and re-assembled it with completely new parts, which is a testament to his technical skills.
Kyle is a true inspiration to many and a testament to the American dream. He is a hardworking individual who is dedicated to developing his craft. Kyle plans on working with his father post high-school at a networking company running fiberoptic lines. He is a true go-getter and is always looking for ways to improve himself. Kyle is a great example of what can be achieved through hard work and dedication.

Khrystyna Zakharkiv
Stevenson High School
Grade 12
CTE Program Health Science
Nominating Teacher Susan Rawling
Khrystyna is an outstanding student who arrived in the US as a non- English speaking 11-year-old Ukrainian immigrant. Khrystyna took the initiative to become the only member of her family to take the citizenship course and became a US citizen. She was instrumental in helping her grandfather come to the US, as well as, helping other new immigrants with their legal papers. Khrystyna assists new Ukrainian students at Stevenson through her translation skills and cleans homes every Saturday with her mother to support her family.
Khrystyna worked hard to learn the language and her hard work and passion are evident in her challenging coursework and outstanding academic record. Khrystyna is taking all available CTE Medical Science courses and is preparing for the Patient Care Technician Certification this spring. She is a highly valued student intern at Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan and an active competing member of HOSA-Future Health Professionals. Her hard work in the CTE medical curriculum will help her achieve her dream of becoming a dentist. She is an inspiration to many and a true testament to the American dream. Khrystyna plans to attend the University of Detroit-Mercy and pursue a career as a dentist.

Business Partner
Karen Polisei
Occupational Therapist
Macomb Intermediate School District
Mrs. Polisei is a valuable asset to our program. Karen is always available to provide thoughtful responses and advice when we pose questions or ask for suggestions.
As a parent of students in the program, Karen is highly motivated to provide feedback that assists the medical science program; by helping the students be the best version of themselves and prepare them for the rigor and challenges of a career in healthcare.
Our discussions on soft skills and what she sees in her practice with students have been invaluable and have driven the way I run my Medical Science classes. We greatly appreciate the seven years she has given of her time and talents to the students at Eisenhower High School. Karen’s dedication to the program and her willingness to share her expertise have made a significant impact on the students. Her contributions to the program have been instrumental in shaping the curriculum and providing students with the necessary skills to succeed in their future careers.

Source: Utica Community Schools

Robert S. Monroe, Superintendent of Schools

Http://www.uticak12.org