Community Montessori Students Earn National Recognition in C-SPAN’s StudentCam Competition

Three students from Community Montessori in Carlsbad have been honored in C-SPAN’s 21st annual StudentCam film competition, earning honorable mention for their compelling documentary, The Price of Life: America’s Healthcare Crisis.

Devin Mingardi, Vincent Chase, and Wesley Robson were recognized for their exceptional work, delving into the pressing issue of healthcare in America. Their thought-provoking documentary stood out among more than 1,700 entries submitted by nearly 3,500 students from 42 states and Washington, D.C. As a result, each student will receive a $250 award in recognition of their achievement.

StudentCam, C-SPAN’s annual documentary competition, challenges students to explore topics of national significance. This year’s theme, Your Message to the President: What issue is most important to you or your community? encouraged participants to research, analyze, and present well-informed perspectives on key societal issues.

Craig McAndrew, C-SPAN’s director of education relations, praised the students for their diligence and storytelling abilities.

“Through in-depth research and interviews with an array of topical and technical experts, [these students] have crafted impactful short stories that capture issues of wide public interest and importance,” McAndrew said. “[Their] documentaries set a very high bar for future StudentCam filmmakers, and [they] should be proud knowing [their] work will inspire [their] peers and foster thoughtful consideration from all audiences.”

In addition to Community Montessori’s recognition, Harper Haden and Helena de la Houssaye, students from Correia Middle School in San Diego, secured second place in the competition for their documentary, One Pill Can Kill. Their film, which investigates the impact of fentanyl trafficking across the U.S.-Mexico border, will be broadcast on C-SPAN on April 9 at 6:50 a.m. ET, with additional airings throughout the day.

The Community Montessori students’ success in this prestigious competition highlights the power of student-led inquiry and the importance of civic engagement in education.

Community Montessori is a TK-8 tuition-free charter school authorized by the San Diego County Office of Education.