Homestead High School senior wins 2nd place in national C-SPAN competition

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) - Homestead High School senior Leah Steup is counting down the days to her film premiere after placing second in C-SPAN’s StudentCam documentary competition.

Her film, “Kids First: Indiana’s Child Welfare System”, stood out among more than 1,700 entries nationwide, earning her a $1,500 cash prize and a chance to have her work broadcast on national television.

Steup says choosing a topic was easy because she has always been passionate about child welfare issues.

She says she was inspired by friends who had experienced challenges within the system, pushing her to dig deeper.

To provide a well-rounded perspective, Steup interviewed officials from the Indiana Department of Child Services and state representatives.

Steup says she hopes her documentary will inspire policymakers and the public to take action. She also encourages other students to participate in StudentCam, calling the experience eye-opening.

Steup’s award-winning documentary will air on C-SPAN on April 7.