2025 2nd Prize Middle School Division – “One Pill Can Kill: The Effects of Fentanyl Crossing the US-Mexico Border” by Harper Haden & Helena de la Houssaye

7th grade students Helena de la Houssaye and Harper Haden from Correia Middle School in San Diego, California won 2nd Prize in the Middle School division for their documentary, “One Pill Can Kill: The Effects of Fentanyl Crossing the US-Mexico Border.” As 2nd Prize winners, the duo will split $1,500 in prize money.

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. 2025 marked the 21st year of the competition and in this presidential inaugural year, we asked students to explore and analyze matters of personal, local or national importance by addressing the theme — “Your Message to the President: What issue is most important to you or your community?”

C-SPAN is funded by America’s cable and satellite television companies, who also support StudentCam. In San Diego, C-SPAN is available locally through Cox Communications.

Press:

• Press Release: San Diego Area Students Win Prizes in C-SPAN’s National Video Documentary Competition (Google Doc)
• Article: San Diego, Carlsbad Students Win Prizes in C-SPAN Documentary Competition (Times of San Diego)
• Article: Carlsbad students recognized in C-SPAN film competition (The Coast News)
• Article: Three Correia Middle School students are winners in C-SPAN StudentCam video contest (San Diego Tribune)