LAND O’ LAKES, Fla. – Two local students from Charles S. Rushe Middle School have officially put Land O’ Lakes on the national map. Fiore Smetana and Dominic Bellino were recently named honorable mention winners in C-SPAN’s 2026 StudentCam documentary competition, a prestigious contest that drew thousands of entries from across the United States.
Working under the guidance of their adviser, Anthony Engel, the duo created a film titled “The Civil Rights Movement – A Journey to Equality: An Ever-going Fight.” For their efforts, the students will take home a $250 cash prize.
The timing of the win is particularly significant as the country marks its 250th anniversary. To celebrate this “Semiquincentennial,” C-SPAN challenged middle and high schoolers to connect the Declaration of Independence to modern issues or historical turning points.
Smetana and Bellino were part of a massive wave of participants, as nearly 4,000 students from 38 states submitted over 1,800 documentaries. Their project was judged on its research, original storytelling, and how well it incorporated C-SPAN’s own political programming.
This year’s competition saw a wide variety of topics, but a few key themes dominated the field. Equality was the most popular subject, appearing in 16% of entries, followed by rights and freedoms at 13%. Other students focused on immigration, the economy, and healthcare.
Because middle school students are judged on a national scale rather than a regional one, the win for the Charles S. Rushe team represents a high level of achievement against a broad field of competitors.
C-SPAN, which is funded by cable and satellite companies like local provider Spectrum, has awarded over $1.7 million in prizes since the competition began in 2004. This year alone, the organization is handing out $100,000 in cash to students and teachers.
Craig McAndrew, C-SPAN’s Director of Education Relations, praised the winners for their ability to document societal issues through the lens of the nation’s founding principles. “Each of their prize-winning videos is sure to spark meaningful reflections among viewers across the country and inspire future generations of filmmakers,” McAndrew said.
Industry leaders also noted the importance of the competition in encouraging civic engagement among young people. Adam Falk, Senior Vice President of State Government Affairs for Spectrum, noted that the winners are doing more than just reading history books.
“Each year, C-SPAN’s StudentCam competition demonstrates that the next generation is not only studying history – they’re engaging with it and applying it to the world around them,” Falk stated.
The winning documentaries, including the one from Land O’ Lakes, are now available for the public to view at studentcam.org.
READ: Red Wave Hits Home: Florida GOP Secures String Of Local Victories
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