The sixth annual “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” Student Video Contest has a total of 26 middle schools participating this year from Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton Counties. There are 15 regional contests scheduled in Pennsylvania for the 2018-2019 school year. The contest format, created by Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) here in the Lehigh Valley, has also been adopted by groups in 11 additional states and gained recognition and support from Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf.

“What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” (WSCM), presented by MRC is a video contest that gives students in Carbon, Lehigh, and Northampton Counties the opportunity to connect directly with local manufacturers, document their experiences and present them in an educational and “cool” way through documentary video production. The contest was created to generate excitement that draws students toward considering manufacturing career paths to create a 21st century workforce. The contests are supported regionally by their sponsors and partners.

“The success of this program across the state of Pennsylvania validates its design, which is to raise awareness about manufacturing career opportunities for our students.” says Jack Pfunder, President & CEO of Manufacturers Resource Center.

Partnering with MRC for the project are eMediaWorks, Sahl Communications, Inc and EmpowerStar Marketing. Educational media resources, GoPro Camera kits, professional media training from eMediaWorks, materials, and project costs were funded and made possible by the following: The Technology Sponsor; Air Products Event Sponsor; Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. Platinum Sponsor; Lehigh Valley Workforce Board Gold Sponsors; Aerotek, Ametek, Inc, ATAS International, B. Braun Medical Inc., Crayola LLC, Gross McGinley, LLP, Innovation Studios, LLC, Lehigh Carbon Community College, Mack Trucks, Inc., Northampton Community College, Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc, PNC Bank, PPL Electric Utilities, RETTEW, and Stanley Black & Decker. Cupcake Sponsor; Lehigh University Networking Sponsor; Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba, PC. Silver Sponsors; Bosch Rexroth, BRD Noise and Vibration Control, Inc., C.F. Martin & Company, Concannon, Miller & Co., Eastern Surfaces, ESPI, Feinberg Real Estate Advisors, LLC, First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union , FMI, Follett Corporation, HindlePower, Just Born Quality Confections, Key Bank, Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, Nestlé Waters North America, Piramal Critical Care, Inc, ProtoCAM, RER Energy Group, and Victaulic. Bronze Sponsors; Bank of America, Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School, Carbon Career and Technical Institute, Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corporation, Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit, Career Institute of Technology, County of Northampton, Express Employment Professionals, Fromm Electric Supply Corporation, GLVCC Manufacturing Council, HMK Insurance, Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank, and Lehigh Career and Technical Institute, and the National Museum of Industrial History,Media Sponsors; 99.9 Hawk, Adams Outdoor Advertising, and Lehigh Valley Business Journal. Cupcake Competitors; Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School, Career Institute of Technology, and Lehigh Career and Technical Institute. Cupcake Judges; Carlo’s Bakery, Lehigh University and Factory. Media Sponsors include: 99.9 The hawk, WFMZ 69 News, Lehigh Valley Business Journal and Adams Outdoor Advertising.

Voting for the sixth annual “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” Student Videos will be available February 20 to the 22, on the What’s So Cool website, whatssocool.org.

For more information regarding the “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” Video Contest, please visit whatssocool.org facebook.com/wscmlv and @WSCMLV on Twitter.

About “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?”™:

Developed by Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC), the WSCM program is a video based educational tool that increases awareness of career paths in manufacturing. MRC developed this innovative career awareness program which at its core is “peer marketing” (kids telling kids what’s so cool about manufacturing jobs). The contest is showcased on the What’s So Cool Website, https://www.whatssocool.org and shared nationally through the Manufacturing Institute and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership platforms. The contest is expanding across the Commonwealth and the country. Inside Pennsylvania there will be 15 regions conducting contests this year. This contest gives students the opportunity to connect with local manufacturers, document their experiences and present.

As originally published on PR Web