The 14th “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing®” program, an ever-evolving student video contest, kicks off this year in the Lehigh Valley with 29 middle schools from Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, and Northampton counties. “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing” culminates with an awards event in March 2027. The contest was created to generate excitement about manufacturing career paths while promoting CTE and STEM education.

In 14 years, the WSCM program has gained momentum and has been implemented across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and several other states. The Lehigh Valley planning team has been leading the expansion and will continue to grow the WSCM program across the United States. More than 7000 students from across the commonwealth, 700 manufacturers, and 60 percent of Pennsylvania school districts have participated in WSCM since MRC launched the program in 2013.

Over the past decade, MRC created the WSCM Video Library, which now includes 1,602 student-created manufacturing profile videos. The library has become a much sought-after resource for education and economic development. True bonds formed between Lehigh Valley manufacturers and middle school students will last for decades to come!

“The What’s So Cool About Manufacturing program has continued to expand throughout Pennsylvania and beyond, successfully driving career awareness in the manufacturing sector among students, teachers, and parents. This year’s Lehigh Valley Awards event will be held at Lehigh University’s Stabler Athletic & Convocation Center April 1, 2027,” said Rich Hobbs, MRC President & CEO. “Lehigh’s support of the program as Premier Sponsor grows visibility for our manufactures in eastern Pennsylvania.”

The “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing” student video contest provides 7th and 8th grade students with a unique opportunity to connect directly with local manufacturers. Students build on their curiosity and apply their creativity to develop, shoot, edit, and produce a “cool” video to document their experiences. Student teams will partner with manufacturers in twelve 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.

“Celebrating the 14th year of ‘What’s So Cool About Manufacturing’ is an exciting milestone and a reflection of the continued enthusiasm this contest generates across the Lehigh Valley and throughout Pennsylvania,” said Karen Buck, Director, Workforce Initiatives at MRC. “The contest provides students with an opportunity to explore manufacturing, learn about the many career paths available in the industry, and share what they discover with their peers and communities.”

All videos will be posted on the “What’s So Cool” website WhatsSoCool.org and will be open to the public for voting March 17-19, 2027, for the Viewers Choice Award. The Lehigh Valley Awards Event is scheduled for Thursday, April 1, 2027, at Stabler Athletic & Convocation Center at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. The Awards will be broadcast live on WFMZ-TV.

The program’s continued success and growth are attributed to the efforts of the teachers and students from the community who have participated since its inception. “The contest continues to build connections between students, educators, and manufacturers while highlighting the rewarding opportunities available right here in Pennsylvania,” Buck said. MRC and its partners eMediaWorks, Sahl Communications, Inc., and EmpowerStar Enterprises, along with the many community sponsors are committed to its continued sustainability.

For its 14th year, MRC is proud to announce the following participating schools and their featured manufacturers:

STUDENT TEAM

FEATURED

MANUFACTURER

Bangor Area Middle School Nordson MEDICAL

Broughal Middle School Follett Products, LLC

Catasauqua Middle School Victaulic

Easton Area Middle School Sharp Clinical

Harrison-Morton Middle School Just Born, Inc.

J.T. Lambert Middle School BioSpectra, Inc.

L.B. Morris School AMPAL, Inc.

Lehighton Area Middle School TPEI

Lehman Intermediate School All Weather Insulated Panels

Lower Macungie Middle School Freshpet

Nazareth Area Middle School Ocean Spray

Nitschmann Middle School Bosch Rexroth Corporation

Northampton Area Middle School Advanced Personalization Solutions, LLC

Northeast Middle School B. Braun Medical Inc.

Northern Lehigh Middle School C.F. Martin & Co., Inc.

Northwestern Lehigh Middle School Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.

Orefield Middle School Sumitomo (SHI) Cryogenics of America, Inc.

Panther Valley Jr/Sr High School Little Leaf Farms

Penn Kidder Campus Architectural Polymers, LLC

Raub Middle School Polymer Contours

Salisbury Middle School Precision Roll Grinders

Saucon Valley Middle School OraSure Technologies, Inc.

South Mountain Middle School FMI

Southern Lehigh Middle School Mack Trucks

Springhouse Middle School Dynalene, Inc.

St. Joseph the Worker School ATAS International, Inc.

Trexler Middle School Primo Brands

Whitehall-Coplay Middle School Prototek Digital Manufacturing

Wind Gap Middle School Crayola

Visit WhatsSoCool.org and WSCM Video Library whatssocool.org/video-library/ for more information and resources.

Contributed article