Kalista Diamantopolous
What does it mean to be an American?
This was the compelling and challenging question student filmmakers across the United States explored in their short documentaries for the C-SPAN 2019 National StudentCam Documentary Competition.
On May 23, T.C. Williams High School student participants were joined by friends, family, and guests including Congressman Don Beyer, Alexandria Councilman Canek Aguirre, and representatives of C-SPAN at T.C. to celebrate the hard work and effort they put into creating their winning documentaries.
This year, there were approximately 3,000 entries and more than 6,000 participants, a 10% increase from last year. The StudentCam competition recognized 150 winners with cash prizes totalling $100,000.
Students were tasked with choosing a “constitutional right, national characteristic, or historic event and explain how it defines the American experience.”
Since 2006, C-SPAN has partnered with its local cable television providers in communities across the nation to invite students to produce 5-6 minute documentaries about issues of national importance.
"Over the last 15 years, we've had the privilege of hearing viewpoints on a wide variety of issues directly from young filmmakers across the country," said C-SPAN's Manager of Education Relations Craig McAndrew.
Charlotte Despard and Angelina Hunt, honorable mention winners, will receive $250 for their documentary, “Chasing the American Dream: A Nation Built by Diversity,” which synthesized and analyzed views from both sides of the Immigration debate. This was their second year participating in the competition.
Jayson Makori, Karina Solorzano, and Benjamin Janusz, honorable mention winners, will receive $250 for their documentary, “Pressing for Freedom,” which examined the First Amendment Freedom of the Press, the effect of the media on citizens, and expression.
The T.C. winners are all members of the school’s T.V. Media/Production class taught by Ms. Vilma Zefran. Zefran requires that all her students submit to the competition, which is no easy feat. The students shared that it took over a month of editing and relentless searching for interviewees with concurring and dissenting opinions. However, Zefran encourages her students participate because without even realizing it, they learn “how to tell a story”. She explains that the project provides her students with a creative outlet where they utilize skills they have learned in other classes, like writing and researching, to effectively convey a meaningful message.
These accomplished students are only just beginning their journey in the field of media and communications. Senior Jayson Makori will attend Marymount University next year where he plans on studying Strategic Communications and Advertising.
The theme for the 2020 National StudentCam Competition will be announced in July and the competition will launch at the beginning of the new school year.
Watch the other winning documentaries at http://www.studentcam.org/winners19.htm.
Watch all of the submitted documentaries at https://www.viddler.com/channel/studentcam2019.
