STATE COLLEGE, CENTRE COUNTY - People across the nation have opinions about national policy, but one student in State College wanted his opinion to be heard.
To any outsider, Alan Shimp looks like a normal 11 year-old, but little do you know, Alan's in the 10th grade.
"I admit it, I'm an expert. Code for geek," Alan said.
And if you strike up a conversation with him, chances are, you won't be talking about sports or Lego's.
"It's the national debt because first of all, it's driving the economy into the ground and it's generally a bad thing," he said.
No, this 11 year-old likes to talk politics.
"I'm interested in what's going on on a national scale," Alan said. "I realize that this is terrible and it's ruining a lot of people's lives."
For the past few years, Alan and his dad, Ed Shimp, have worked together making videos.
"I started teaching him how to edit and forever had been talking about storytelling and what makes a good story and how to put things together," Ed said.
This year, Alan decided to put his video-making skills to the test.
He entered C-SPAN's National 2013 Student-Cam competition, which asks middle and high school students to make a documentary addressing national policy.
This year, students were asked to answer the question, "What's the most important issue the president should consider in 2013?"
Little did Alan know his eight-minute documentary called "Free Candy" would take top prize.
"I was just blown away, I couldn't think straight," he said.
Some may call this 10th grade, 11 year-old a kid genius. You're probably right, but as Alan would say, "I'm patriotic and I love America and I'm interested in what's going on."
Alan will receive a $3,000 check for his winning video. He plans to donate most of that money to Centre County Paws. To see Alan's full video, visit http://studentcam.viddler.com/videos/watch.php?id=3b72e384.
To any outsider, Alan Shimp looks like a normal 11 year-old, but little do you know, Alan's in the 10th grade.
"I admit it, I'm an expert. Code for geek," Alan said.
And if you strike up a conversation with him, chances are, you won't be talking about sports or Lego's.
"It's the national debt because first of all, it's driving the economy into the ground and it's generally a bad thing," he said.
No, this 11 year-old likes to talk politics.
"I'm interested in what's going on on a national scale," Alan said. "I realize that this is terrible and it's ruining a lot of people's lives."
For the past few years, Alan and his dad, Ed Shimp, have worked together making videos.
"I started teaching him how to edit and forever had been talking about storytelling and what makes a good story and how to put things together," Ed said.
This year, Alan decided to put his video-making skills to the test.
He entered C-SPAN's National 2013 Student-Cam competition, which asks middle and high school students to make a documentary addressing national policy.
This year, students were asked to answer the question, "What's the most important issue the president should consider in 2013?"
Little did Alan know his eight-minute documentary called "Free Candy" would take top prize.
"I was just blown away, I couldn't think straight," he said.
Some may call this 10th grade, 11 year-old a kid genius. You're probably right, but as Alan would say, "I'm patriotic and I love America and I'm interested in what's going on."
Alan will receive a $3,000 check for his winning video. He plans to donate most of that money to Centre County Paws. To see Alan's full video, visit http://studentcam.viddler.com/videos/watch.php?id=3b72e384.
Charlotte Ames is the area's only local Health Reporter and brings you the latest medical health news weeknights. You can catch Healthcast on WTAJ News at 5:00pm and her Health Headlines report on WTAJ News at 5:30pm.