Two eighth-graders at Independent Day School placed nationally in a C-Span competition

Published: April 7, 2010
By COURTNEY CAIRNS PASTOR
cpastor@tampatrib.com

CARROLLWOOD - Two eighth-graders at Independent Day School placed nationally in a C-Span competition that asked middle and high school students to produce documentaries on the United States' strengths or challenges.

Nicholas LaVoy won second place for his video, "Education: A Challenge." Benjamin Muschol placed third for "Hunger Bites."

The top 27 videos from the competition - one grand prize, two first prizes, eight second place and 16 third - are airing on C-SPAN throughout the month at about 6:50 a.m. An interview with the winning student will occur at 8:30 a.m. during "Washington Journal."

C-SPAN also recognized 48 honorable mentions.

The grand prize, which went to a middle school team from Wisconsin, was $5,000, with $1,000 for digital video equipment for the school.

For second place, LaVoy will win $1,500 with $125 for the school equipment. Muschol wins $750.

Muschol's video aired April 5 and is available with the interview online at www.c-spanvideo.org/program/292400-5.

Muschol said in his interview that the increase in the number of people at food banks concerned him.

"A lot of people aren't getting as much as they should," he said.

LaVoy's piece can be seen at www.studentcam.org/winners10.htm. It will air April 19.

Nearly 2,000 students submitted 1,003 entries of five to eight minutes long. C-SPAN representatives judged the videos based on how well they related to the theme, whether they included varying viewpoints and if they incorporated C-SPAN programming.

The Independent Day School entries grew out of a middle school project. The private school required all eighth-graders to create video documentaries of three to five minutes each. Teachers Darina Glover and Michael Vokoun talked to students about merging research with technology.

Five students submitted their videos to the 2010 C-SPAN StudentCam National Student Documentary Competition.

Reporter Courtney Cairns Pastor can be reached at (727) 451-2343.

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