SENIOR PROJECT OVERVIEW

DIRECTIONS: Explain each area in 35 to 50 words.

Name: Thomas Cerja IV

Title of Project: Eradicating the School to Prison Pipeline

Title of Research Paper: The Entrapment, Enslavement, and Mass Incarceration of African
AmericanStudents:TheSchooltoPrisonPipeline

Synopsis of Research Paper: My research delved into the different power structures that make up our
school systems. It goes into analyzing how multiple factors from implicit bias, institutionalised racism,
and unequal funding contribute to African American students struggling in school and being suspended.
My paper also analyzes the impacts of increased suspension and the legal impacts of new disciplinary
policies.

Project Description: My project was specifically tailored to the School to Prison Pipeline. I hosted a
seminar at the Plaza Annex building in Virginia Beach. At my seminar there were three breakout sessions.
Each session was tailored to students, teachers, and citizens to show how the School to Prison Pipeline
directly affects them personally and what they can do to help the problem.

Relationship between Project and Paper: My project was in direct correlation to my paper. It was taking a
problem analyzed in depth by my paper; and creating positive action solutions to reverse it. My project
was able to take a negative issue and analyze it from a different lense. It spun it into a positive outlook to
show how our community can work as a collective to solve issues pressing against us.
My background experience in the area: Since my freshman year I have volunteered with at-risk youth
through multiple organizations. I have done community service projects with the Mayors Youth Leaders
in Action steering at-risk youth away from drugs and alcohol. I also started a mentorship program at
Virginia Beach Middle School for students who were frequently suspended. I chose this topic to find out
why they are frequently suspended.

Special things Id like judges to consider and look for: I would like the judges to consider that my passion
for this issue reaches beyond just this project and plan on continuing my work to improve the school
system for all students in the present and the future.