Grades 6 -12 compete for more than $50,000 in prizes

    With families struggling to afford college tuition, Time Warner Cable and C-SPAN are teaming up together to provide a contest that helps pave the way. Middle and high school students are challenged to bring the U.S. Constitution to life in a video documental competition, with over $50,000 in cash and in-kind prizes.

    In partnership with Time Warner Cable, C-SPAN today is calling for entries in the 2012 StudentCam. Now in its eighth year, C-SPAN’s national competition invites all middle school students (grades 6-8) and high school students (grades 9-12) to produce a five- to eight- minute video documentary using C-SPAN programming. The deadline for entries is January 20, 2012.

    “StudentCam gives young people the chance to share their opinions with C-SPAN’s national viewing audience,” says C-SPAN Vice President of Education Joanne Wheeler. “The Constitution is always timely, even more so in this political year, which is why we’re asking students to critically examine the document that forms the foundation of American government.”

    The C-SPAN Education Foundation supports the contest through $50,000 in cash prizes for 75 student awards. The Grand Prize winner with the best overall entry will be awarded $5,000, with multiple cash prize awards of $250, $500, $750, $1,500, and $3,000 to students in both middle and high school categories. Teachers are also eligible to compete for cash prizes.  In addition, courtesy of Time Warner Cable, one California student will be eligible for a trip to Washington, DC and a tour of the C-SPAN studios.

Competition Guidelines

    Entries must represent varying points of view, and include C-SPAN video that supports the documentary’s topic. Students, working alone or in groups up to three, can upload their entry form and videos directly online at www.studentcam.org. Documentaries must be the original work of students; however teachers may provide guidance and critiques.

    The documentaries will be judged by a panel of C-SPAN representatives and educators, and evaluated on a number of criteria, including the thoughtful examination of the com-petition’s theme, quality of expression, adherence to the time limit, inclusion of varying points of view, and use of C-SPAN programming.

    The deadline for entries is Friday, January 20, 2012. Winners will be announced in March 2012, with the top 27 winning videos to air on C-SPAN in April 2012. Complete competition details and the entry form are available at the competition’s website, www.studentcam.org. In addition to cash prizes, past winners have had their documentaries recognized by the White House.