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Sofia Wright

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Sofia Wright poses wearing a black cardigan over a blue shirt, with green trees in the background

2nd Place

Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, 2026

The library research process did not simply help me find support for an idea I already had. It helped me discover the sharper question the project was actually capable of answering.”

— Sofia Wright

Disrupting Carceral Logics in Schools: Restorative Justice, Transformative Justice, and the Gap Between Intended and Actual Outcomes

Research paper for UWP 101: Advanced Composition

Read Sofia’s Paper

Project Description

Wright examined discipline and reform in K-12 schools. Through an analysis of trial and administrative data, interviews, theoretical studies and other sources, she found that restorative justice practices show promise in reducing punishment and improving school climate, but implementation without deeper structural change often excludes the students most affected by punitive systems. A class visit by librarian Sheena Campbell helped Wright identify relevant databases for her review and refine search strategies.

In Her Own Words

Read Sofia’s reflective essay (pdf) from her Lang Prize application.

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