Two Viewpoint Seniors have earned national recognition for their work behind the camera. Andrew Neville ’26 and Ben Chesed ’26, students in Viewpoint’s Documentary Filmmaking class, were recognized in the 2026 C-SPAN StudentCam Competition, a contest that challenges students to create short films exploring public policy issues. This year’s theme commemorated the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence.

Neville was awarded Third Place in the High School Western Division for his documentary, “The 2025 Calabasas Landfill Controversy,” which examines the conflict surrounding Los Angeles County’s disposal of Palisades fire debris in the Calabasas landfill and its impact on nearby communities. 

Chesed received an Honorable Mention for his film, “New College Athlete,” which explores how name, image, and likeness (NIL) policies are reshaping college athletics. The documentary features interviews with former USC football players and NFL athletes Matt Leinart and LenDale White, who reflect on how the system has evolved since their time in college.

Both films were selected among 150 winning entries nationwide. In addition to his recognition from C-SPAN, Neville’s work was also featured in the Los Angeles Daily News.

“I’ve run on the trails adjacent to the Calabasas Landfill for over ten years,” he said. “As a longtime local resident, I feel a responsibility to protect the environment in which I’ve grown up.”

Chesed, who has long followed college athletics, was drawn to the complexity of NIL policies and their rapid impact on the sports landscape.

“I wanted to make something that actually explains what’s going on, not just repeat what people already hear,” he said. “NIL creates real opportunities, but also raises questions about fairness and the future of college sports.”

The StudentCam Competition invites thousands of students from across the country to engage with complex civic issues through documentary filmmaking, highlighting the importance of student voice in addressing real-world challenges. Both students received cash prizes and plan to reinvest them in Viewpoint’s film program.

Congratulations to Neville, Chesed and the Viewpoint film program on this achievement.