8th grade student Vis Amirshahi from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in Germantown, Maryland won 2nd Prize in the Middle School division for her documentary, “Operation Ajax: Defending Democracy by Undermining the Will of the People,” about the 1953 US coup in Iran, its contrast with American democratic ideals, and its effect on global affairs. As a 2nd Prize winner, Vis receives $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. 2026 marked the 22nd year of the competition and in this semiquincentennial year celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we asked students in grades 6-12 to create a short (5:00-6:00 minute) video documentary on either a historical or contemporary topic that related to the competition theme, “America’s 250th Anniversary”
Exploring the American Story through the Declaration of Independence.
C-SPAN is funded by America’s cable, satellite television and streaming companies, who also support StudentCam. In Germantown, C-SPAN is available locally through Comcast.
Press:
- Press Release: Washington, D.C. Area Students Win Prizes in C-SPAN’s National Documentary Competition (Google Doc)
- Article: Montgomery County, D.C. Students Win National Honors in C-SPAN Documentary Competition (The MoCo Show)
StudentCam 2026 2nd Prize: "Operation Ajax: Defending Democracy by Undermining the Will of the People"
Congratulatory Messages and Recognition
Maryland Governor Wes Moore
National Security Archive Deputy Director and Director of Research at GWU Malcolm Byrne
Senator Chris Van Hollen
Maryland State Senator Brian J. Feldman
Author, Historian, and Journalist Stephen Kinzer
