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 Northampton, Lehigh, Carbon and Monroe 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% of Pennsylvania school districts have participated in WSCM since Manufacturers Resource Center launched the program in 2013.

During 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 and Convocation Center April 1, 2027,” said Rich Hobbs, MRC president and 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 seventh- and eighth-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 12 regions across Pennsylvania this year, where videos will compete first in regional contests and then in the annual statewide awards in Harrisburg.

“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 of 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 at whatssocool.org. They 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 April 1, 2027, at Stabler Athletic and Convocation Center at Lehigh University in Bethlehem. The awards will be broadcast live on WFMZ-TV.

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

Northampton Area Middle School: Advanced Personalization Solutions, LLC

Whitehall-Coplay Middle School: Prototek Digital Manufacturing

Catasauqua Middle School: Victaulic

Bangor Area Middle School: Nordson MEDICAL

Broughal Middle School: Follett Products, LLC

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

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

Wind Gap Middle School: Crayola

Visit whatssocool.org and the What’s So Cool About Manufacturing Video Library at whatssocool.org/video-library for more information and resources.