Chase Petersen from Olentangy Liberty High School in Powell, Ohio won 2nd Prize in the High School Central Division for his video titled, “Against the Silence,” about the Declaration of Independence’s influence on the Vietnam War protests following President Nixon’s Cambodian Incursion and the Kent State shooting. As a 2nd Prize winner, Chase collects $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 Powell, C-SPAN is available locally through Spectrum.
Press:
- Press Release: Powell Students Win Prizes in C-SPAN’s National Documentary Competition (Google Doc)
- Article: A pair of Olentangy Liberty High School students earned national recognition as 2026 winners in C-SPAN’s annual StudentCam documentary competition (Delaware Gazette)
StudentCam 2026 2nd Prize: "Against the Silence"
Congratulatory Messages and Recognition
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine
Ohio State University History Professor Michael Flamm
Powell, Ohio Mayor Heather Karr
Olentangy Schools Superintendent Todd R. Meyer and Board of Education President Brandon Lester
