Senior Jeffery Takahashi wants to end bullying at Tracy schools by creating the Bulldog Project. The Bulldog Project is a club that creates skits and lesson plans to teach to middle schools about bullying, cyber bullying, and what to do if you witness bullying. This project is the first of its kind.

Takahashi first started the Bulldog Project to raise money for the Tracy High varsity basketball team. He wanted the team and the coaches to look more professional by having warm-ups and other athletic apparel that the other teams in the league had.

“You have to look good to play good,” Takahashi said.

After Takahashi heard about students who had committed suicide because of bullying and cyber bullying, he made it his mission to never have that happen at Tracy High or other Tracy schools.

“Bullying is a major problem,” Takahashi said. “Most students that witness bullying don’t speak out about it.”

This drove Takahashi to team up with Tracy Crime Stoppers. Tracy Crime Stoppers is an anonymous tip line to call or text to give information about a witnessed crime. If the tip helps police to make an arrest the tip can get up to a $1,000 reward.

“This project allows students to bridge the gap created by the fear of retaliation,” Takahashi said.

Takahashi also got the approval and support of Tracy High’s Athletic Director Gary Henderson. He allows the club to meet in his room on Mondays after school.

“Something like this is what the school needed,” Henderson said. “It’s great to see students working in a positive way to support our sports programs.”

There are over 40 Tracy High students involved with the Bulldog Project. The Bulldog Project team serves as role models and discusses what it takes to be successful in high school, such as joining sports, band, and/or clubs. The topics covered are anti-cyber bullying, bullying, gangs, drugs, weapons, and dangerous school situations. They also encourage the kids to attend all Bulldog events.

“I’m so glad to be a part of this project,” senior Jill Finney said. “I hope to make an impact on kids’ lives.”

The Bulldog Project is serving as a model for the Students Speaking Out for the Tracy Unified School District.

“We hope all high schools start their own type of Bulldog Project,” Takahashi said.

To spread awareness of the project, Takahashi and several members of the Bulldog Project team passed out informational cards telling what the project is about at the Tracy High football game on Friday. They also sold programs for the Tracy High basketball team.

“It was fun talking to people about the Bulldog Project,” senior Devrah Asah said. “They were really interested in it.”

The sponsors involved with the Bulldog Project include: Brett Allen of Tracy Honda/Mazda, Debbie Pappas of Premier Chrysler/Hyundai, Robert Rickman of the Tracy city council, Marshall Rose of Tracy Crime Stoppers, and Chief Gary Hampton of the Tracy Police Department.

Gallery • 4 Photos

Chris Coykendall

Jeff Takahashi, senior