The C-SPAN Civics Bus will visit the high school on Friday, May 22 to interview Alexander Macina about his video
 

Alexander Macina

May 8, 2009 - Shaker High School sophomore Alexander Macina’s video documentary "Following the Money Down Pennsylvania Avenue" received a third prize award in C-SPAN’s StudentCam 2009 contest.

Macina will receive a $750 prize and will be interviewed by C-SPAN reporters on May 22, when one of C-SPAN’s two Civics Buses visits the high school. His video aired on C-SPAN in April.

• To view the video and an interview with Alex, click here.

Principal Richard Murphy had high praise for Macina's efforts.

"Alex is a talented student who is once again receiving national recognition. His work and video production is exemplary," Murphy said. "We are excited about the impeding visit from c-span. Our other students with similar interests as Alex’s will be offered a great opportunity to see the workings of a national media company."

The StudentCam national competition, now in its fifth year, invited middle school and high school students to produce a five- to eight-minute documentary focusing on the topic: “A message to the new president: What is the most urgent issue for the new president to address after taking office, and why?”

This year's competition generated a record number of entries; nearly 1,000 videos from students in 41 states around the country. A total of 75 winners and 11 teacher awards were announced by C-SPAN and were accompanied by $50,000 in cash awards, including a Grand Prize winner, two first prize winners; eight second prize winners; sixteen third prize winners; and 48 honorable mentions in middle and high school categories.

The videos were judged by a panel of C-SPAN representatives and evaluated based on the thoughtful examination of the contest theme, quality of expression, adherence to the time limit, the balance of views presented, and use of C-SPAN programming.

“Coming off this historic election, students were eager to express their views to the new president, and did so in record numbers,” said Joanne Wheeler, C-SPAN Vice President of Education Relations. “We're delighted with this year’s submissions, and impressed with the sophistication and visual expression students displayed to convey their opinions on major issues facing their communities and the nation.”

For more information about the StudentCam 2009 contest, visit www.studentcam.org/Winners09.htm.

For more information about the Civics Bus, visit www.c-span.org/schoolbus/index.asp.