Ramsay High School Students Winners In C-SPAN Documentary Contest

BIRMINGHAM, AL - Two Ramsay High School students won $1,500 by placing second in a documentary contest sponsored by C-SPAN. Ashleigh Richardson and Ta'Kaiya Cooper submitted a documentary they made titled, "You Matter," which was about the 15th amendment.

In the documentary, which can be seen here, participants discuss their view of the 15th amendment and different setbacks minorities and those who were incarcerated face, as well as rhe consequences that occur when the 15th amendment isn’t used to its full potential. Their video will air on C-SPAN at 5:50 a.m. and throughout the day on April 11.

Each year since 2006, C-SPAN partners with its local cable television providers in communities nationwide to invite middle school students (grades 6-8) and high school students (grades 9-12) to produce short documentaries about a subject of national importance. This year students addressed the theme, “The Constitution & You: Choose a provision of the U.S. Constitution and create a video illustrating why it's important to you."

Richardson and Cooper's film was one out of a record 2,985 video submissions from more than 5,700 students in 46 states and Washington, D.C. They were two of only 16 second place winners. Students worked in teams or as individuals to address a wide range of public policy issues, from the freedoms of the First Amendment and the right to bear arms, to equality and the powers of Congress.

"With so much national debate about government power and personal freedoms, we were eager to hear students' perspectives on what the Constitution means to them," said C-SPAN's Manager of Education Relations Craig McAndrew. "Students across the country engaged in conversation on the local level with elected officials, experts, community leaders and educators to explore how national issues impact their daily lives."

Photo from Birmingham City Schools

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