C-Span StudentCam Competition

Scholarship Sponsored by C-Span

C-SPAN's StudentCam is a yearly national video documentary contest that inspires students to critically analyze issues impacting our local communities and the nation as a whole.

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, we invite students from grades 6-12 to produce a brief (5:00-6:00 minute) video documentary on a topic, either historical or contemporary, that aligns with the competition theme:

Commemorating America’s 250th Anniversary

Unraveling the American Narrative through the Lens of the Declaration of Independence

Students are tasked with crafting a 5- to 6-minute documentary that delves into the lasting influence of the Declaration of Independence by investigating:

(1) its impact on a significant event in America’s 250-year history

or

(2) how the principles outlined in this foundational document relate to a current issue affecting you or your community.

Contest Guidelines

All entries must be submitted by Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

Open to Grades 6-12

This recurring contest is open to all students in grades 6-12. Students in grades 6-8 compete in the Middle School division, while those in grades 9-12 participate in the High School division.

For further details about the prize categories, please visit our Prizes page.

Individual or Team Participation

Students can participate individually or in teams of 2 or 3 members.

If your documentary is awarded a prize, the prize money will be equally divided among the students involved in the documentary's production.

Inclusion of C-Span Clips

The documentaries must incorporate clips of C-SPAN video that are relevant to the chosen topic.

Consider using brief video clips that offer historical context, additional perspective, or contrasting ideas related to your topic.

Criteria:

My/our topic is directly linked to the 2026 StudentCam theme,

“Commemorating America’s 250th Anniversary” Unraveling the American Narrative through the Lens of the Declaration of Independence

Students are tasked with crafting a 5- to 6-minute documentary that delves into the lasting influence of the Declaration of Independence by investigating:

1.  its impact on a significant event in America’s 250-year history

- or -

2.  how the principles outlined in this foundational document relate to a current issue affecting you or your community.

My/our documentary was produced by 1-3 individuals. (A documentary produced by more than 3 members will be disqualified. Teachers and adults can provide general guidance but cannot actively participate in the production.

My/our documentary incorporates several clips of C-SPAN video footage with contrasting viewpoints, historical or background context, and/or b-roll footage that are relevant to my chosen topic.

My/our documentary explores various perspectives of my chosen topic, including those that may contradict my/our viewpoints.

My/our documentary is devoid of violent or offensive content (images and language).

My/our documentary runs between 5:00 and 6:00 in length. Eligible documentaries must be at least 5:00 minutes in length, or must conclude by the 6:00 minute mark. (End credits may begin after the 5:00 mark, and end credits are allowed to run beyond the 6:00 minute documentary time limit)

My/our documentary includes either end credits or a submitted works cited list. (Works cited lists can be uploaded and submitted with your Entry Form, or submitted via email to educate@c-span.org)

Submit your video by 11:59pm PST on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

Additional Suggestions: (highly recommended to enhance your documentary, but not mandatory.)

My/our documentary includes interviews with subject matter experts, elected officials, and/or individuals directly affected by my chosen documentary topic. Ensure to identify the speaker and their title, if applicable.

My/our documentary includes supporting b-roll footage related to my documentary. B-Roll footage can be anything related to the topic you are discussing and is used to add additional visual interest, or provide additional visual context.

My/our documentary includes copyright-free music that doesn’t overpower interviews or voiceovers. Ensure to reduce volume of background music when people are speaking - the information being presented is of higher importance than any background music.

My/our documentary includes narration. Consider recording yourself speaking on camera but if you are uncomfortable doing that, audio narration can really help tie the various elements of your documentary together. You must write your own scripts to avoid plagiarism, and while you may certainly use sources from your research to inform your narration, you must put that information in your own words.