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MISSION
What is the UCS Foundation’s purpose?
The UCS Foundation, through partnerships with the community and the UCS district, encourages and supports educators and students to enhance educational experiences beyond what is possible with public funding.
VISION
Where is the UCS Foundation headed and what will it look like?
The UCS Foundation will be the model for education foundations in the State of Michigan recognized for the funds raised, assets built, partnerships formed, programs delivered, grants awarded, and the impact realized.
CORE VALUES
Who is the UCS Foundation at its core?
Student Success
From the beginning, the Foundation has been driven to advance student success. We continue to hold this as a primary goal and endeavor to contribute to their success through our programs and grants.
Well-Being
We will give time and attention to developing financial, social, physical, developmental, psychological and emotional wellness to enable our foundation, our board, our donors, our district, our students and teachers, and our relationships to thrive.
Engagement
We will actively involve the community – educators, businesses, residents, parents and alumni – to fully engage with the UCS district.
Inspiration
We are driven by our passion for our students, their educators, and this community. We will encourage others to invest their time, talents and resources in the education of UCS students.
Stewardship
We value the resources that are contributed to the Foundation and will responsibly use them to increase what the District can do for its students through innovation and strategy.
Equity
Each UCS student deserves to have the best learning environment and tools to foster dynamic, creative learning opportunities that vary based on individual student needs.
Our Partners
Legacy of Excellence Awards
Utica Community Schools held the inaugural Legacy of Excellence awards celebration, in which they recognized 13 community members for their excellence and dedication to Utica Community Schools. Of those, four are/were part of the UCS Foundation board.
Ray Lope
Founding Member of the UCS Foundation for Educational ExcellenceRay Lope possesses an intrinsic sense of responsibility to students and to the betterment of their opportunities and our world. Embodying what it means to be a selfless community leader, Ray Lope has inspired generations of service innovators.
Robert Van Camp
Assistant Superintendent for Teaching & LearningRobert Van Camp’s passion for education was evident in the classroom as a social studies and language arts teacher at Henry Ford II High School and during competitions as a debate and forensics coach. During his teaching career, Robert Van Camp was recognized as the Teacher of the Year by WDIV-Newsweek for Macomb County, the Michigan Council for Social Studies, and the State of Michigan, he also was founder and director of the Far East Institute, a Japanese language and East Asian culture program. He later became further involved with UCS as an associate principal at Henry Ford II High School and principal at Jeannette Junior High and Eisenhower High School before assuming his role as Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning. Robert Van Camp remains an advocate for UCS students and staff with the UCS Foundation for Educational Excellence.
Donald Bemis
Utica Community Schools & Michigan SuperintendentDonald Bemis served as the UCS Superintendent of Schools for 18 years and helped open over 20 schools before becoming the Superintendent of Public Instruction for the State of Michigan. Formerly Sterling Junior High School, Bemis Junior High School was renamed to honor his work in the 1980s. The excellence that UCS builds upon today was founded upon the leadership and methodology of Donald Bemis.'
Gene Klida
Board of Education PresidentGene L. Klida saw her role as a mentor to others within the community as her most honored achievement. She worked tirelessly during her time on the Board of Education and through her involvement with the UCS Foundation for Educational Excellence to ensure students of all kinds and needs had every opportunity to succeed and that all UCS staff were supported in their work.
UCS Foundation Events
Your Donations Make a Difference
There are many ways to contribute to the education of the students in the Utica Community School District. Please consider giving generously to the UCS Foundation for Educational Excellence to insure the continued legacy of excellence in our schools.