San Ramon sixth-grader Sanjana Ranganathan received national recognition for a video project that explores the community impact of the new sugar sweetened beverage tax in Berkeley.

The annual C-SPAN StudentCam competition asks middle and high school students to create a five- to seven- minute documentary about a national policy issue. This year's theme was, "The Three Branches and You: tell a story that demonstrates how a policy, law, or action by either the executive, legislative, or judicial branch has affected you or your community."

Ranganathan's documentary captured multiple views on Berkeley's sugary beverage ordinance, which imposes a general tax of 1 cent per fluid ounce on sugar sweetened drinks. The Bay Area city is the first in the nation to pass the tax.

The video produced by the Gale Ranch Middle School student received $250 and honorable mention. She was also honored during a ceremony held at her school on Monday.

Ranganathan's video is the only one in Contra Costa County and one of seven from the Bay Area to place in the competition, according to the San Ramon Valley Unified School District.

The projects were judged by a panel of C-SPAN education representatives and evaluated based on the thoughtful examination of the competition's theme, quality of expression, inclusion of varying sides of the documentary's topic and effective incorporation of C-SPAN programming.

C-SPAN received 2,280 video submissions from approximately 5,000 students across the nation. Ranganathan's documentary was one of 150 to be recognized, officials said. All of the winning videos can be viewed online.