2026 Middle School Winners

Ada Ngai & Jonathan Wang are in the 8th grade at Juan Cabrillo Middle School in Santa Clara, California. They learned about the video contest through the 49ers STEM Leadership Institute program, where their science teacher, Ms. Scilingo, introduced it in class. They chose economics as their topic because they saw how widespread child labor is and the damage it causes to children around the world, including physical, mental, and emotional harm. Having always had access to education, “we were surprised to learn how much it could change children’s lives and a country’s economic future.” They studied how population growth can lead to poverty and a greater need for resources and labor, which can contribute to the cycle, and sought to raise awareness and find solutions to the challenge.

Ada and Jonathan had created videos before, but only for class projects, never for a competition. This was the first time they produced a stop-motion type video. They created all the images and props and used WeVideo for editing. The most challenging part of the process was “coming up with a solution, because the topic was so broad,” Ada shared. Jonathan mentioned that finding reliable sources was difficult, but they researched separately, verified information together, and used peer-reviewed sources when available, which was a successful strategy. Their favorite part was working together to write the script, and they enjoyed collaborating to pick the most impactful information for their video. Their advice for future participants is to plan, set a timeline, and avoid procrastination. Ada shared that “it is easy to underestimate how long it takes to make a one-minute video.”

Both Ada and Jonathan enjoy STEM-related programs outside of class. They are in the Math Olympiad and the FIRST LEGO League. Ada also loves reading and cats, and Jonathan likes playing basketball and other sports. Being in middle school, they are still exploring what they might want to do after high school, but Ada shared that she wants to do something that could make a change in someone’s life, and Jonathan shared that he is interested in teaching or coaching. They are both interested in continuing to spread awareness about child labor, and shared that they could advocate for policy changes with their local governments, hold talks and speeches, bring it up in conversation with others, and share their video.