A climate change documentary “Code Red: The Clean Air Act’s Battle Against Climate Change”, has earned Shannon Germaine, an Ann Arbor high school student, second prize in C-SPAN’s national 2022 StudentCam competition.
Germaine was awarded $1,500 for her which will air on C-SPAN at 6:50 a.m. and throughout the day on April 16. The documentary competition, which is now in its 18th year, invites all middle and high school students to enter by producing a short documentary.
More than 300 students from across the country won a total of $100,000 in the competition, with C-SPAN awarding one grand prize, four first prizes, 16-second prizes, 32 third prizes and 97 honourable mention prizes. The winning videos are expected to receive cash awards of $5,000, $3,000, $1,500, $750 and $250, respectively.
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In the documentary, Germaine spoke to sources and interviewed experts and politicians on the urgency of climate change and how strengthening and enforcing the Clean Air Act, which was passed in 1970, is essential.
“The Clean Air Act was last updated in 1994,” Germaine said in the documentary. “To be an effective weapon we need it to be strengthened to stand up to the changing climate and the constantly changing political climate of Washington, D.C.”
For this year, C-SPAN, in cooperation with its cable television partners, asked students to explore a federal policy or program and address the theme: “How does the federal government impact your life?”
While more than 3,000 students across the country participated in the contest, Craig McAndrew, director of C-SPAN Education Relations said they received more than 1,400 entries from 41 states, Washington, D.C., Morocco and South Korea.
“This year we asked students to reflect on how a federal program or policy is relevant to their lives and communities,” said McAndrew. “The winners showcased exceptional research and production values as they wove personal stories with historical or contemporary issues”.
Story was adapted from Michigan Live.
