RSM Students Win Prizes In C-Span Video Documentary Competition

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA — Three local students received honorable mentions and cash prizes after submitting their documentaries in C-SPAN's national 2023 StudentCam competition, C-SPAN announced Tuesday.

The competition, now in its 19th year, is a project-based learning experience that gives students the chance to explore multiple perspectives on topics that are important to them.

This year, students were asked to envision themselves in a position of power and were asked the question: "If you were a newly-elected member of Congress, which issue would be your first priority and why?"

Orion Bentley and Micah Reiss, students at Las Flores Middle School in Rancho Santa Margarita, received an honorable mention prize of $250 for the documentary "The Wildfire Problem."

Kaleel Nabi, also a Las Flores Middle School student, also received an honorable mention prize for the documentary "Restoring American Optimism."

More than 300 students across the country are winning a total of $100,000, according to a C-SPAN news release. One grand prize will be awarded in the competition, 4 first prizes, 16 second prizes, 32 third prices and 97 honorable mention prizes.

The annual StudentCam competition is sponsored by the C-SPAN Education Foundation, according to the news release.