Photos submitted by Michele Sefarin, Hancock Public Schools Hancock High School ninth and tenth grade students are tested with a series of puzzles provided by Michigan Tech’s GEAR UP program. The UNBOXED Challenge™ combines real world STEM concepts with puzzle solving team work to give students insights to future educational and workforce situations

Michigan Tech’s GEAR UP program was thrilled to come serve Hancock High School’s ninth and tenth grade. MI GEAR UP is a federally funded program from the US Department of Education designed to increase the number of students in participating schools who are prepared to enter postsecondary education.

MI GEAR UP partners with Michigan’s 15 public universities, of which Michigan Tech is one, and valuable external community partners to provide early intervention services and a scholarship component.

This past January students in Hancock participated in a GEAR UP event where they demonstrated and built logic, reasoning, teamwork and communication skills through applied STEM concepts in an exciting, engaging challenge that showcased the impact STEM has in our lives and careers through completing an UNBOXED Challenge™!

In this challenge students step into the role of a detective as they race to solve the mystery of who stole a valuable necklace from a museum. Each puzzle will introduce new evidence as students learn to identify fingerprint characteristics and complete Punnett squares to determine the suspect blood type. As they piece together DNA sequences and collect fabric samples, students will inch closer to catching the thief and preventing an international scandal!

Unboxed Challenges: Michigan Tech’s innovative Unboxed Challenges™ provide students with an opportunity to apply STEM knowledge to real world scenarios while developing skills in leadership, teamwork, communication, and critical thinking.

These fast-paced events are designed to help students build confidence in a high-pressure environment as they work in small groups to solve puzzles on topics like clean manufacturing, forensic science, circular economy, and other critical industries. Unboxed Challenges have achieved unparalleled outcomes to date, including a 100% recommendation rate by teachers and 96% of students state that the event helped them realize the importance of soft skill development for their future careers.

Photos submitted by Michele Sefarin, Hancock Public Schools
Hancock High School ninth and tenth grade students are tested with a series of puzzles provided by Michigan Tech’s GEAR UP program. The UNBOXED Challenge™ combines real world STEM concepts with puzzle solving team work to give students insights to future educational and workforce situations