A Jenks High School senior is bringing national recognition home to Oklahoma after earning second prize in C SPAN’s 2026 StudentCam documentary competition for a film examining food insecurity and the effects of Trump administration policy on hungry families. Adilei Brown won second prize in the High School Central Division for her documentary, “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: Is that Possible on an Empty Stomach?”
According to C SPAN, Brown competed against nearly 4,000 students from across the country and abroad.
Her documentary tackled food insecurity in Oklahoma and included discussion of how new Trump administration policies could worsen hunger for vulnerable families.
Oklahoma ranks 50th in education, and that is exactly why students like Adilei Brown matter so much. At a time when our state is in desperate need of more critical thinking, more compassion, and more young people willing to engage with real issues, Brown is a light hope.
Thank you, Adilei Brown, for being a role model for your community and for showing what real promise looks like. You have already made Oklahoma proud, and it is clear you have a bright future ahead.
