The U Scoop
Some thoughts for the starting school year
Principal's Greetings
Hello U Families,
As we begin the 2nd Semester and embark on African American (Black) History month I'm reminded of the poem "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou, specifically the final stanza:
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.
University Eagles continue to rise and soar to greater heights through the continued academic advancements. The U Faculty plans and facilitates in and out of their classrooms. Currently, The U Faculty has combined those efforts to the creative planning and execution for our African American History program at the end of this month. Let's go Eagles!!!
Make sure to follow us on all our social media channels for additional information and behind the scenes highlights. The U is on Instagram and Facebook !
Dates to Remember:
Friday, February 9, 2024 UHSA's Student Council will be hosting a Blood Drive in the Media Center from 8am - 2pm. Sign up to donate blood here.
The 2024-2025 UMHSA application window will be from February 12-29, 2024. The application link will go live on February 12th via the UMHSA website.
The UMSA Student Council will be sponsoring a BOXED Food Drive from February 5-16, 2024. Items needed: Pancake Mix, Pasta and Mac & Cheese, AND they've organized a school-wide Spirit Week starting Monday, February 12 - Friday, February 16, 2024.
Monday, February 19 - Friday, February 23, 2024 - NO SCHOOL - Mid-Winter Recess
Wednesday, February 28, 2024 - African American History Program "The Black Experience" IN SCHOOL only!
Educationally Yours,
Orlando T. Bogins
The U goes RED on February 2, 2024 to support Women's Heart and Brain Health
2024 Winter Sports
UMSA Student Athletes - Sports Schedules
Our middle and high school students are actively participating on Basketball, Swim, and Bowling teams in conjunction with Southfield A&T. Make sure to click the following link to access their upcoming competitions.
U Students of the Month!
Congratulations Thomas Brown - UMSA 8th grader
Thomas Brown’s commitment to UMSA and his academics do not go unnoticed. He is a leader here at UMSA. Thomas has been an active member of both National Junior Honor Society and Student Council since the 6th grade. Thomas is a valuable member of both organizations. He always volunteers to help plan community service projects and school activities. He is also a member of our school choir ChorUs. In addition Thomas takes his academics seriously. He is always prepared for class and contributes to class discussions. He is an overall wonderful student.
Submitted by Mrs. VanErmen
Congratulations Marry Kassa - UHSA 11th grader
Marry Kassa was awarded NCWIT Aspirations in Computing (AiC) National Honorable Mention (Top 400 out of over 3,300 others; top 10%. 360 people get national honorable mention, while 40 get national winner). She also won the NCWIT AiC Regional Affiliate Award Winner for Michigan. The NCWIT Aspirations in Computing (AiC) High School Award honors 9th-12th grade women, genderqueer, and non-binary students for their computing-related achievements and interests, and encourages them to pursue their passions. Award recipients are selected based on their aptitude and aspirations in technology and computing, as demonstrated by their computing experience, computing-related activities, leadership experience, tenacity in the face of barriers to access, and future plans. Marry will receive a plaque, swag, computing resources, various other prizes, as well as scholarship and internship opportunities.
“Marry excels in AP Computer Science A on a daily basis. I am so proud of her passion for learning and the accomplishments that she has achieved.” - Mrs. Petrou
UHSA's Student Council
UHSA's Student Council members attended their first Leadership Conference in Frankenmuth on Tuesday, January 30th. They collected a plethora of school spirit and faculty recognition ideas that they are eager to implement and share with the U Community. Look for more from them in the upcoming weeks!
What's Happening at The U
English at The U
The African American Inspired Project for all of Mrs. Tomlinson's classes will be creating their own "Blue Print" inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King's infamous speech to Barrett High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 26th, 1967-just six months before he was assassinated. He asked the high schoolers the question, "What is your life's blueprint?" Students will create a sequential, creative, step- by- step plan that includes dreams, goals, and character traits essential to having a successful future both academically and personally. These blueprints will be given back to the students during their senior year as a sweet and reflective reminder of the importance of having a road map for their lives.
On Thursday, February 7th, Dr. Paul Jaussen, Associate Professor of Literature and Chair in the Department of Humanities , Social Sciences, and Communications at Lawrence Technological University will visit Mrs. Tomlinson's 7th hour AP Language and Composition Course and conduct a poetry workshop on renowned Michigan poet Nandi Comer's work from his book Tapping out. Paul Jaussen received his PhD in English with a joint PhD in Theory and Criticism from the University of Washington in 2010. His research focuses on poetry and poetics, literary theory and criticism, modernism, contemporary literature, and the relationship between literature and technology. His first book, Writing in Real Time: Emergent Poetics from Whitman to the Digital (Cambridge UP, 2017), uses systems theory as a model for interpreting long poetry across historical periods, ranging from Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass to contemporary works by Nathaniel Mackey and Rachel Blau DuPlessis. With Mary Balkun and Jeffrey Gray, he edited A Companion to American Poetry (Wiley-Blackwell, 2022).
Fine Arts at The U
The U's Art students displayed multiple acts of kindness by using their artistry and creativity to impact others! They painted, drew pictures, cooked delicious meals, baked tasty treats, wrote poetry, and played music for friends, families, animal shelters, and local communities. Artistic expression is necessary and the U's student Artists understand its importance in our lives!
Math at The U
This month, the Math Department wants to celebrate the impact that Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) in our country. Students at HBCUs account for only 9% of all African American students in the US, but graduates from HBCUs account for over 25% of African American students receiving Bachelor degrees in STEM fields. This means that HBCUs produce more graduates in STEM fields compared to non HBCUs. For a more detailed breakdown of these statistics, please see the National Science Foundation article "The Science Behind HBCU Success" https://new.nsf.gov/science-matters/science-behind-hbcu-success. According to the National Institutes of Health, the top five HBCUs for STEM are: 1) North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, 2) Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, 3) Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, 4) Howard University, and 5) Jackson State University. A part of their success can be contributed to HBCUs implementing proven practices that assist students in STEM fields to obtain rich professional experiences, research opportunities and mentorships, navigating through courses and financial challenges, and driving students to post-baccalaureate success.
One such successful graduate is Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green, who earned her Bachelor Degree from Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University before earning her Masters and Doctorate degrees from University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Green is a STEM pioneer, leader, humanitarian, and entrepreneur who is introducing the world to the next generation of cancer treatments, cancer charities, and affordable healthcare. She is one of the nation’s leading medical physicists and one of the first African American women to earn a Ph.D. in Physics. Dr. Green developed a revolutionary cancer treatment that uses lasers and nanotechnology to eliminate cancer in mice after only one 10-minute treatment in just 15 days with no observable side effects. To ensure the affordability of this treatment, she founded a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the Ora Lee Smith Cancer Research Foundation (OraLee.org), to raise the funding for human clinical trials.
Science at The U
In Anatomy and Physiology with Mr. Carey, students are getting to the "heart of the matter" by dissecting sheep hearts to explore blood flow through the heart and how it is pumped throughout the body.
Social Studies at The U
AP African American Studies
Students in AP African American Studies facilitated by Mr. Deegan and Ms. Lewis continue to make strides in their respective classes. This month they've been invited to the Detroit Institute of Arts' exhibit honoring the legacy of African American films and stars as well as their role in the American Civil Rights Movement - a special cross-disciplinary program that includes:
a film and discussion in our newly renovated Danto Lecture Hall
the Regeneration Exhibition and
an artmaking session in our DIA Studios
U Announcements
Need some U Gear?
Stitchworks Embroidery is offering the following items. Follow the ordering directions at the bottom and get those U orders in by 2/19/2024.