These Hackensack Teens Just Won National Awards for Churning Out Hard-Hitting Documentaries
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Hackensack NJ, How do modern high schoolers view the American Dream, the death penalty, and the legacy of 9/11? A group of brilliant Bergen County students didn’t just talk about these heavy topics—they made award-winning films about them.
On Friday, May 29, 2026, at 2:00 PM, representatives from C-SPAN and Optimum will arrive at Bergen County Academies (BCA) in Hackensack, New Jersey. Their mission? To host a high-profile school assembly honoring seven local students who beat out thousands of competitors nationwide in the prestigious C-SPAN StudentCam documentary competition.
Backed by their dedicated teacher and adviser, Scott Lang, these students proved that the next generation of filmmakers and civic leaders is thriving right here in New Jersey.
The Challenge: Rewriting the Declaration of Independence for 2026
In honor of the upcoming United States Semiquincentennial (America’s 250th anniversary), C-SPAN issued a massive challenge to middle and high schoolers across the country. They asked students to analyze the enduring power of the Declaration of Independence by linking its foundational values to either a historical turning point or a pressing contemporary issue.
The competition was fierce. C-SPAN received more than 1,800 documentary submissions from nearly 4,000 students across 38 states and Washington, D.C.
Out of all those entries, four documentaries from Bergen County Academies stood out, earning Honorable Mention prizes and a $250 cash reward for each team.
Meet the Award-Winning Bergen County Academies Students
The winning BCA student filmmakers tackled incredibly complex social, legal, and political landscapes:
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Luna Cannone – “REdefining the American Dream” (A deep dive into immigration)
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Joseph Moon & Aurora Markja – “Equitable Education: A Broken Promise” (An analysis of modern educational disparities)
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Saanvi Gaur & Yuju Oh – “UNALIENABLE RIGHTS: The Question on Justice” (An exploration of the death penalty)
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Tejas Sastry & Anaya Patel – “Post 9/11: South Asians and America’s Promise” (A look at cultural identity and civil rights post-2001)
“This year’s StudentCam participants masterfully documented important political as well as societal issues,” said Craig McAndrew, C-SPAN’s Director of Education Relations. “Each of their prize-winning videos is sure to spark meaningful reflections among viewers across the country.”
What Issues Matter Most to Gen Z?
The brilliant submissions from Bergen County closely mirrored the thoughts of high schoolers nationwide. According to data released by C-SPAN, the 150 winning videos from this year’s circuit heavily focused on a few recurring, crucial themes:
| Topic / Theme Explored | Percentage of Entries |
| Themes of Equality | 16% |
| Rights and Freedoms | 13% |
| Immigration and Deportation | 10% |
| Economy and Tariffs | 9% |
| Health and Wellness | 8% |
Elton Hart, Vice President and General Manager of Optimum Tri-State, shared his excitement over the local partnership. “We are honored to continue partnering with C-SPAN and share in their dedication to encouraging critical thinking and civic engagement among the next generation of leaders,” Hart stated.
Since its launch in 2004, the StudentCam competition has awarded over $1.7 million in prizes to young filmmakers. Locals looking to support Hackensack’s winning students can stream all of this year’s winning videos directly at StudentCam.org.
Key Takeaways
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The Event: C-SPAN and Optimum are celebrating Bergen County Academies winners at a live school ceremony on May 29, 2026.
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The Scope: Seven BCA students won Honorable Mentions in a pool of nearly 4,000 participants nationwide.
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The Content: The student documentaries covered crucial modern topics including immigration, the death penalty, education equity, and post-9/11 America.
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Tags:
Hackensack NJBergen County AcademiesC-SPANStudentCamOptimumStudent FilmmakersEducation News New Jersey
