WASHINGTON — C-SPAN announced Wednesday that students in Phoenix and Chandler are 2024 honorable mention prize winners in C-SPAN’s 20th annual StudentCam competition.

Jacqueline Reyes, Noemi Silva Vasquez and Thet Htar Swe, students at Metro Tech High School in Phoenix, will receive $250 for the documentary, “Heavenly Limits: The Infringement of Faith in Politics.”

Czaryna Lingat, a student at Paragon Science Academy in Chandler, will receive $250 for the documentary, “The Rise of A.I.: Intersection of Technology and Humanity.”

C-SPAN, in cooperation with its cable television partners, asked middle and high school students to address the theme, “Looking Forward while Considering the Past,” through one of the following prompts:

In the next 20 years, what is the most important change that you would like to see in America?

 -OR-

 Over the past 20 years, what has been the most important change in America?

Now in its 20th year, this project-based learning experience gives students the opportunity to explore multiple perspectives on topics that are important to them. In response, over 3,200 students participated, and C-SPAN received over 1,600 entries from 42 states and Washington, D.C. The most popular topics addressed were:

• Artificial Intelligence, Technology, and Social Media (18%)
• Abortion, Health Care, and Mental Health (17%)
• Climate, Energy & Land Use, and Pollution (13%)
• School Safety, Gun Policy, and Criminal Justice (11%)
• Economy, School Funding, and Homelessness (8%)

“In recognition of the 20th anniversary of C-SPAN's StudentCam competition, this year we asked students to either look 20 years into the future or to reflect on a topic of importance to them and its past," stated Craig McAndrew, director of C-SPAN Education Relations in a news release. "Students have skillfully blended their perspectives with in-depth research and an array of expert interviews, and we are thrilled to share their accomplishments with their local communities, and the nation.”

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

"Cox Communications is excited to honor our Arizona winners, Jacqueline, Noemi, Thet and Czaryna, in the 2024 StudentCam competition," stated Susan Anable, Phoenix Market Vice President, Cox Communications. "We are proud to partner with C-SPAN to help provide a platform for students across the country to share their voice on the issues important to them as they work to be informed and active citizens. Congratulations!"

In honor of the 20th year of the competition, C-SPAN is gifting educators an additional $50,000, for a total of $150,000 in student and teacher cash prizes and awards. More than 300 students and 200 teachers from across the country are winning participants. C-SPAN is awarding one grand prize, 4 first prizes, 16 second prizes, 32 third prizes and 97 honorable mention prizes. The winning videos will receive cash awards of $5,000, $3,000, $1,500, $750 and $250, respectively.

Over the course of two decades, C-SPAN has awarded more than $1.5 million in prizes. Since 2004, over 63,000 students and 20,000 teachers have participated in the competition. StudentCam has been a catalyst for inspiring young minds to think critically about issues that are important to them and has empowered them with the tools they need to become informed, civically engaged citizens.

High School students competed regionally in one of three regions: West, Central and East. Middle school students were judged on a national basis. The grand prize winner was selected nationally among all regions and grade levels.

The 150 winning videos can be viewed at studentcam.org and may be used in a broadcast with attribution to C-SPAN.

Editor's note: The above was republished from a C-SPAN news release.