The 11th anniversary launches the “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing” program into a new decade. The ever-evolving student video contest kicks off this year in the Lehigh Valley, where the Manufacturing Resource Center promotes STEM education in middle schools. “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing” supports the student video contest, culminating with the awards event in March.

The contest was created to generate excitement that draws students toward manufacturing career paths, and CTE and STEM education. In 10 years, the WSCM program has gained momentum and been implemented across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The Lehigh Valley planning team has been leading the expansion and will continue to grow the WSCM program across the United States. More than 6000 students from around the commonwealth, 600 manufacturers, and 60 percent of Pennsylvania school districts resulted from MRC’s launch of WSCM 10 years ago. Over the past decade, MRC has grown The WSCM Video Library housed on the WhatsSoCool.org website with almost 1,200 manufacturing videos to become a much sought-after resource for education and economic development. True bonds formed between the ‘Valley’ manufacturers and middle school students will last for decades to come!

“With all the growth and attention around the program and the awards event we have decided to move the awards night to Lehigh University’s Stabler Athletic & Convocation Center on March 26, 2024,” said MRC President and CEO Rich Hobbs. “Lehigh’s expanded support for the program will allow us to expand visibility for our manufacturers by hosting an expo just before the awards program. We are thrilled to be partnering with them.”

The student video contest provides seventh and eighth graders a unique opportunity to connect directly with local manufacturers as they use their curiosity and creativity to develop, shoot, edit and produce a “cool” video to document their experiences. Student teams will partner with manufacturers in 11 regions across Pennsylvania this year, where videos will compete first in regional contests and then in the annual Statewide Awards in Harrisburg. The contest is spearheaded by Manufacturers Resource Center.

This year, 30 student teams from Carbon, Lehigh, and Northampton County middle schools are partnering with 30 area manufacturers to produce their video submissions in the Lehigh Valley Program. All videos will be posted on the “What’s So Cool” website WhatsSoCool.org and will be open to the public for voting on March 13-15 for the Viewers Choice Award. The Lehigh Valley Awards Event is scheduled for March 26, at Stabler Athletic & Convocation Center at Lehigh University, and will be broadcast live on WFMZ. The program’s continued success and growth are attributed to the efforts the teachers and students have put forth in the community since its inception. MRC and its partners eMediaWorks, Sahl Communications, Inc., and EmpowerStar Enterprises and the many community sponsors are committed to its sustainability.

For its 11th year, MRC is proud to announce the following participating schools and their featured manufacturers:

Bangor Area Middle School

C.F. Martin & Co., Inc.

Broughal Middle School

Weaver Popcorn Manufacturing

Catasauqua Middle School

Kitchen Magic

East Hills Middle School

Freshpet, Inc.

Easton Area Middle School

Crayola

Eyer Middle School

Mancor PA Inc.

HMMS

Lehigh Valley Plastics

L.B. Morris School

TPEI

Lehighton Area Middle School

B.T.M. Incorporated

LMMS

JULABO USA

Nazareth Area Middle School

KB Systems Inc.

Nitschmann Middle School

BlueTriton Brands

Northampton Area Middle School

Follett Products, LLC

Northeast Middle School

Bosch Rexroth Corporation

Northern Lehigh Middle School

B. Braun Medical Inc.

Northwestern Lehigh MS

Prototek

Orefield Middle School

Just Born Quality Confections

Palmerton Area JH

Nestle Purina Petcare

Panther Valley Jr Sr High School

Bulldog OEM Services, Inc.

Raub Middle School

Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.

Salisbury Middle School

Victaulic

Saucon Valley Middle School

Human Active Technology

Southern Lehigh Middle School

Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.

St. Anne School

ATAS International, Inc.

South Moutain Middle School

Stanley Black & Decker

Springhouse Middle School

FMI

Trexler Middle School

Precision Roll Grinders

Weatherly Area Middle School

Weatherly Casting&Machine Co.

Whitehall-Coplay Middle School

ARCH Medical Solutions

Wind Gap Middle School

ABEC

“As we start our second decade of building awareness about careers in the manufacturing sector we have increased our dynamic partnerships between business and education.” said Karen Buck, director, Workforce Initiatives at MRC. “The 11th anniversary of the program reinforces the need for students, parents, friends and businesses to continue to learn together about the opportunities available in manufacturing. Middle school students experience a rare behind-the-scenes perspective into interesting and profitable careers and see firsthand the important benefits of STEM and CTE education in high school,” said Buck.

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