The 14th \u201cWhat\u2019s So Cool About Manufacturing\u00ae\u201d 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. \u201cWhat\u2019s So Cool About Manufacturing\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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!<\/p>\n
\u201cThe What\u2019s 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\u2019s Lehigh Valley Awards event will be held at Lehigh University\u2019s Stabler Athletic & Convocation Center April 1, 2027,\u201d said Rich Hobbs, MRC President & CEO. \u201cLehigh\u2019s support of the program as Premier Sponsor grows visibility for our manufactures in eastern Pennsylvania.\u201d<\/p>\n
The \u201cWhat\u2019s So Cool About Manufacturing\u201d 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 \u201ccool\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cCelebrating the 14th year of \u2018What\u2019s So Cool About Manufacturing\u2019 is an exciting milestone and a reflection of the continued enthusiasm this contest generates across the Lehigh Valley and throughout Pennsylvania,\u201d said Karen Buck, Director, Workforce Initiatives at MRC. \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
All videos will be posted on the \u201cWhat\u2019s So Cool\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
The program\u2019s continued success and growth are attributed to the efforts of the teachers and students from the community who have participated since its inception. \u201cThe contest continues to build connections between students, educators, and manufacturers while highlighting the rewarding opportunities available right here in Pennsylvania,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
For its 14th year, MRC is proud to announce the following participating schools and their featured manufacturers:<\/p>\n
STUDENT TEAM<\/p>\n
FEATURED<\/p>\n
MANUFACTURER<\/p>\n
Bangor Area Middle School \tNordson MEDICAL<\/p>\n
Broughal Middle School \tFollett Products, LLC<\/p>\n
Catasauqua Middle School \tVictaulic<\/p>\n
Easton Area Middle School \tSharp Clinical<\/p>\n
Harrison-Morton Middle School \tJust Born, Inc.<\/p>\n
J.T. Lambert Middle School \tBioSpectra, Inc.<\/p>\n
L.B. Morris School \tAMPAL, Inc.<\/p>\n
Lehighton Area Middle School \tTPEI<\/p>\n
Lehman Intermediate School \tAll Weather Insulated Panels<\/p>\n
Lower Macungie Middle School \tFreshpet<\/p>\n
Nazareth Area Middle School \tOcean Spray<\/p>\n
Nitschmann Middle School \tBosch Rexroth Corporation<\/p>\n
Northampton Area Middle School \tAdvanced Personalization Solutions, LLC<\/p>\n
Northeast Middle School \tB. Braun Medical Inc.<\/p>\n
Northern Lehigh Middle School \tC.F. Martin & Co., Inc.<\/p>\n
Northwestern Lehigh Middle School \tLutron Electronics Co., Inc.<\/p>\n
Orefield Middle School \tSumitomo (SHI) Cryogenics of America, Inc.<\/p>\n
Panther Valley Jr\/Sr High School \tLittle Leaf Farms<\/p>\n
Penn Kidder Campus \tArchitectural Polymers, LLC<\/p>\n
Raub Middle School \tPolymer Contours<\/p>\n
Salisbury Middle School \tPrecision Roll Grinders<\/p>\n
Saucon Valley Middle School \tOraSure Technologies, Inc.<\/p>\n
South Mountain Middle School \tFMI<\/p>\n
Southern Lehigh Middle School \tMack Trucks<\/p>\n
Springhouse Middle School \tDynalene, Inc.<\/p>\n
St. Joseph the Worker School \tATAS International, Inc.<\/p>\n
Trexler Middle School \tPrimo Brands<\/p>\n
Whitehall-Coplay Middle School \tPrototek Digital Manufacturing<\/p>\n
Wind Gap Middle School \tCrayola<\/p>\n
Visit WhatsSoCool.org and WSCM Video Library whatssocool.org\/video-library\/ for more information and resources.<\/p>\n
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