StudentCam is C-SPAN’s annual national video documentary competition that encourages students to think critically about issues that affect our communities and our nation. The competition, now in its 18th year, invited all middle and high school students to enter by producing a short documentary asking students to explore a federal policy or program and address the theme: “How does the federal government impact your life?”
11th grade students Evelyn Shue & Ida Chen from Richard Montgomery High School and Winston Churchill High School in Rockville and Potomac, Maryland won 1st Prize for their documentary on the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, “Something in the Water.” As 1st Prize winners, the duo has won $1,500 in prize money.
C-SPAN is funded by America’s cable and satellite television companies, who also support StudentCam. In Rockville and Potomac, C-SPAN is available locally through Comcast.
“We are inspired to hear directly from students about the government programs and policies they feel are most impactful to their generation, including how they affect our local communities,” said Misty Allen, VP of Government and Regulatory Affairs for Comcast’s Beltway Region. “Comcast is proud to continue our partnership with C-SPAN on StudentCam and we congratulate this year’s winning students on an outstanding achievement.”
More Information:
- Press Release: Silver Spring Students Win Prizes in C-SPAN Video Documentary Competition (Google Doc)
- Article: DC-area students win C-SPAN contest, will have documentaries aired nationwide (WTOP News)
StudentCam 2022 First Prize: "Something in the Water"
Congratulatory Messages and Recognition

Senator Chris Van Hollen - Certificates of Special Recognition

Representative Jamie Raskin - Certificates of Special Recognition

C-SPAN Founder Brian Lamb and co-President Susan Swain present Evelyn & Ida with a Certificate of Special Recognition

The duo will share $3,000 for their 1st Prize win
Written by studentcam
Recent Posts
- 2026 2nd Prize High School Eastern Division – “The King’s Court” by Murilo dos Santos, Sami Youssef, & Zev Unger
- 2026 2nd Prize High School Western Division – “Media’s Creation of Polarization” by Erica Razalan & Amy Carbajal
- 2026 2nd Prize Middle School Division – “Operation Ajax: Defending Democracy by Undermining the Will of the People” by Vis Amirshahi
- 2026 2nd Prize High School Central Division – “Government Compact: The Law or Threat to Universities” by Tripp Somerville
- 2026 2nd Prize High School Eastern Division – “Consent of the Governed: The Impact of Unchecked Tariffs” by Lucas Jaramillo, Averie Rutishauser, & Lucia Lassiter-Sanabria