Minnesota Students Win $1,000 for Declaration Films

Three Albert Lea High School teams turned cameras and creativity into cash while exploring what the Declaration of Independence means today.

Danica Pestorious, Michaela Hanson, and Brielle Bakken took third place nationally and won $750 for their documentary "The Cost of Independence: Family Farms." The film examines how small agricultural operations struggle to maintain the independence that America's founders championed 250 years ago.

Another team featuring Adylan Gilliam, Keira Erickson, and Danika Jensen earned honorable mention and $250 for "Freedom of Speech and Media." Their documentary explored how First Amendment values hold up in today's digital world.

C-SPAN challenged middle and high school students nationwide to create documentaries connecting the Declaration of Independence to current issues as America approaches its 250th birthday. Over 3,000 students from across the country submitted entries.

Spectrum, the local cable partner, doubled down on celebrating these wins by matching every dollar the students earned during a Monday ceremony at the school. That means the farm documentary team walked away with $1,500 total, while the free speech team collected $500.

The students worked under the guidance of teacher Jim Haney, who C-SPAN specifically recognized for mentoring the teams through months of research, filming, and editing.

The Ripple Effect

This win represents more than trophy money for six teenagers. Since launching in 2004, StudentCam has distributed over $1.7 million in prizes, teaching thousands of young people how to research complex topics, conduct interviews, and tell compelling stories through film.

Craig McAndrew, C-SPAN's director of education relations, said the winning videos will "spark meaningful reflections among viewers across the country and inspire future generations of filmmakers." The documentaries now live on C-SPAN's website where teachers and students nationwide can watch them.

For small-town Albert Lea, population 18,000, seeing local students compete against teens from major metro areas and win validates something important. Quality education and dedicated mentorship can happen anywhere.

These students proved that Minnesota teenagers have powerful perspectives on American values worth sharing with the entire nation.