Final Project
Final Project: Capstone Portfolio, Re-Entry Plan Presentation & Testimony of Growth
The capstone brings the whole Bridge to Opportunity program together. Every student completes three parts: a Capstone Portfolio, an 8–10 minute Re-Entry Plan Presentation to a panel, and a 2–3 minute Testimony of Growth (written or spoken). Ministry-track students also complete a Supervised Practice Session with supervisor sign-off. Handwritten work is fully acceptable. Never include Social Security numbers, ID numbers, or original documents, and never include details of your offense, other people's names, or facility security information.
Requirements
- Capstone Portfolio: updated résumé with your certificate; cover letter; reference list with three references who agreed to serve; certificates and transcript; two or three work samples from your certificate with captions; personal budget; 12-month re-entry plan; one to three letters of support (or copies of your requests if letters have not arrived); Professional Snapshot
- 12-Month Re-Entry Plan: every life area across four quarters with specific actions and milestones; supervision items to confirm with your officer; at least five supports; warning signs and a get-help-now crisis plan (inside: staff or chaplain; outside: 911 or 988)
- Re-Entry Plan Presentation: 8–10 minutes to the panel covering introduction, growth, 12-month plan, support and safety, certificate and calling, and close; then 3–5 minutes of questions
- Testimony of Growth: 2–3 minutes, written or spoken, using Then, Turning Point, Now, Next; no offense details required; no other people named
- Staying-Connected Plan: mentor, church, program contact, and check-in times
- Ministry track only: Supervised Practice Session: a 15–20 minute role-played session matching your certificate, using a composite scenario, with a signed Supervised Practice Sign-Off marked Complete
Timeline
- Module 1: portfolio inventory, updated résumé, work samples chosen, letters of support requested
- Module 2: 12-month plan drafted; crisis card complete
- Module 3: testimony and presentation drafted and practiced; ministry-track practice session held or scheduled
- Module 4: submit the complete portfolio, present to the panel, and be commissioned
Grading Rubrics
Grading Rubrics
Every rubric uses the same four levels. Your instructor will mark the level that best matches your work for each row and add a short comment.
Module Assignment Rubric
| Criterion | Excellent (4) | Proficient (3) | Developing (2) | Beginning (1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Completeness | Every required part is done | Most required parts are done | About half the parts are done | Little of the assignment is done |
| Accuracy & Skill | Skills applied correctly with no significant errors | Minor errors that do not affect the result | Several errors that affect the result | Major errors throughout |
| Professional Quality | Neat, clear, and ready for an employer to see | Clear with small issues | Hard to follow in places | Unclear or disorganized |
| Effort & Growth | Went beyond the minimum or clearly improved | Solid, consistent effort | Minimal effort | Little evidence of effort |
Total possible: 16 points.
Reflection Journal Rubric
Journals are graded on effort and reflection, never on spelling, grammar, or the details of a personal story.
| Criterion | Excellent (4) | Proficient (3) | Developing (2) | Beginning (1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Completion | Responds fully to every part of the prompt | Responds to most of the prompt | Responds to part of the prompt | Entry missing or one line |
| Connection to Lesson | Clearly applies the week's skill or idea | Mentions the lesson | Vague link to the lesson | No link to the lesson |
| Faith Reflection | Thoughtfully engages the Scripture or faith theme | Engages the faith theme | Brief mention of faith theme | Does not address the faith theme |
| Personal Application | Names a specific next step or change | Names a general next step | Next step is unclear | No next step |
Total possible: 16 points.
Participation Rubric
Scored at the end of each module. Average the module scores for the Attendance & Participation grade.
| Criterion | Excellent (4) | Proficient (3) | Developing (2) | Beginning (1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attendance & Punctuality | Present and on time for the full session | Present; late or left early once | Missed part of the session more than once | Absent without make-up work |
| Preparation | Completed assignment and brought workbook every time | Usually prepared | Sometimes prepared | Rarely prepared |
| Engagement | Contributes thoughtfully and draws others in | Contributes regularly | Contributes when asked | Seldom contributes, even when invited |
| Respect & Covenant | Models the classroom covenant for others | Follows the covenant consistently | Needs occasional reminders | Needs frequent reminders |
Total possible: 16 points.
Final Project Rubric: Capstone Portfolio, Presentation & Testimony
Panelists use the Re-Entry Plan and Presentation rows on their scoring sheets; the instructor scores the remaining rows and assigns the final grade. Ministry-track students must also have a Supervised Practice Sign-Off marked Complete; its 1–4 average is added as a sixth row for those students.
| Criterion | Excellent (4) | Proficient (3) | Developing (2) | Beginning (1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio Completeness & Quality | All items present, organized, polished, and ready for an employer or pastor | Nearly all items present with minor issues | Several items missing or unpolished | Few items present |
| 12-Month Re-Entry Plan | Specific actions and milestones in every life area and quarter; supervision items listed; strong support network and correct crisis plan | Mostly specific with minor gaps | General, or missing several areas or the crisis plan | Missing or unsafe |
| Panel Presentation | Clear, organized, 8–10 minutes; confident delivery; answers questions thoughtfully and receives feedback with grace | Clear and organized with minor timing or delivery issues | Hard to follow or well outside the time | Not presented |
| Testimony of Growth | Honest, hopeful, and safe; follows Then, Turning Point, Now, Next; centered on God's work | Clear and safe with minor gaps | Brief or unfocused | Missing |
| Growth, Calling & Faith Reflection | Clear evidence of growth in skills, character, and faith; strong link between certificate, calling, and next steps | Clear link with minor gaps | Weak link | Missing |
Total possible: 20 points.
Quick Guide
Capstone & Going Home Quick Guide
Keep this guide with your important papers after release.
Capstone Portfolio Checklist
- ☐ Résumé, updated with my certificate
- ☐ Cover letter
- ☐ Reference list (three references who agreed)
- ☐ Certificates and transcript
- ☐ Two or three work samples from my certificate, with captions
- ☐ Personal budget
- ☐ 12-month re-entry plan and crisis card
- ☐ One to three letters of support
- ☐ Professional Snapshot (one page)
- ☐ Never include: Social Security number, ID numbers, or original documents
Panel Presentation (8–10 minutes)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Introduction | 1 minute: my 60-second introduction |
| How I've grown | 1–2 minutes: two or three portfolio highlights |
| My 12-month plan | 3–4 minutes: life areas and key milestones |
| Support and safety | 1 minute: who walks with me (no private details) |
| Certificate and calling | 1 minute: my next step |
| Close | 1 minute: thank the panel; invite questions |
Presentation Tips
- ☐ Practice out loud at least three times
- ☐ Key words on index cards, not full sentences
- ☐ Look at each panelist; speak slowly; pause instead of saying “um”
- ☐ Unsure? Pause, repeat the question, answer briefly
- ☐ It's fine to say “I don't know yet, but here is how I will find out”
- ☐ Receive feedback: listen, say thank you, ask if unclear
My Testimony of Growth
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Then | A brief picture, with no details I don't want to share |
| Turning Point | What began to change, and how God met me |
| Now | My growth in skills, character, and faith |
| Next | Where I believe God is sending me |
My First-Week-Home Checklist
☐ Report to supervision officer by: ____________ at ____________
☐ Housing address and contact: ______________________________
☐ ID, Social Security card, birth certificate (where kept): ______________
☐ Bank or credit union account at: ____________________________
☐ Health and recovery appointments: ____________________________
☐ Job search or work start: ____________________________________
☐ Church to visit my first Sunday: ______________________________
☐ Call my mentor on: ____________
Get Help Now
- ☐ Inside a facility: tell staff or the chaplain right away
- ☐ Outside: call 911 in an emergency
- ☐ Outside: call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) if you or someone else is in crisis
- ☐ Notice your warning signs early and call someone on your crisis card
- ☐ Questions about conditions or legal matters: ask your supervision officer, attorney, or legal aid; never guess
Staying Connected
Mentor or accountability partner: ____________________________
Supervision officer: _________________________________________
Case manager or re-entry coordinator: _______________________
Church and pastor: __________________________________________
Bridge to Opportunity program or alumni contact: ______________
Support group or meeting: ___________________________________
Legal aid: _________________________________________________
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.— Philippians 1:6 (KJV)
Final Exam
- 1.
An email that urgently asks you to click a link and enter your password is most likely:
- 2.
Which is the strongest password?
- 3.
Active listening includes:
- 4.
Which is an I-statement?
- 5.
The three parts of answering a question about your past are:
- 6.
Net pay is:
- 7.
An emergency fund is:
- 8.
Which is usually the most costly way to borrow money?
- 9.
In a SMART goal, the T stands for:
- 10.
Servant leadership means:
- 11.
STAR stands for:
- 12.
Before you accept a job with a night schedule after release, you should:
- 13.
Outside a facility, if someone is in a mental health crisis, you can:
- 14.
Before listing someone as a reference, you should:
- 15.
A steward manages resources that ultimately belong to God.
- 16.
You must share the details of your offense in your testimony of growth.
- 17.
If a supervision condition blocks a goal, the right step is to ask your officer or attorney about the proper process.
- 18.
Philippians 1:6 teaches that God will complete the good work He began in you.
- 19.
Name four items that belong in your Capstone Portfolio.
- 20.
Name two warning signs from your plan and the get-help-now steps inside and outside a facility.