The Manufacturers Resource Center is celebrating its 12th year of teaching middle school students “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing,” and hopefully encouraging them to pursue in-demand careers in the industry.
The program pairs area manufacturers with middle school students to create a video answering the question about what is so cool about that manufacturer, what they make and the potential careers there.
Now, the MRC is launching this year’s campaign, and while it started in the Lehigh Valley, school districts and manufacturers throughout the state now participate in the competition.
The 12th annual student video contest kicks off this year in the Lehigh Valley with 29 middle schools from Carbon, Lehigh, and Northampton counties.
“What’s So Cool About Manufacturing” culminates with an awards event in March 2025. The contest was created to generate excitement that draws students towards manufacturing career paths, while promoting CTE and STEM education.
In 12 years, the WSCM program has gained momentum and been implemented across Pennsylvania and has even been copied in several other states.
The Lehigh Valley planning team has been leading the expansion and said it will continue to grow the WSCM program across the United States.
To date, more than 6,000 students from around the state, 600 manufacturers, and 60% of Pennsylvania school districts have benefited from MRC’s launch of WSCM in 2013.
Over the past decade, MRC has created the WSCM Video Library housed on the WhatsSoCool.org website which now includes 1,300 student-created manufacturing profile videos and is a much sought-after resource for education and economic development.
The annual "What's So Cool About Manufacturing" student video contest provides 7th and 8th graders a unique opportunity to connect directly with local manufacturers as they develop, shoot, edit and produce a "cool" video to document their experience. 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.
Manufacturers participating in this year’s contest include Tyber Medical, Lutron Electronics Co. Inc., C.F. Martin & Co. Inc, Crayola and FreshPet.
“Bringing the excitement of “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing” for the last 12 years in the Lehigh Valley is certainly a true accomplishment,” said MRC President and CEO Rich Hobbs. “It takes communities joining together to embrace an established and well-loved contest that not only inspires and educates, but potentially grows a future workforce which in turn, will support economic growth and expansion in the area.”
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 17-19, 2025 for the Viewer's Choice Award.
The Lehigh Valley Awards Event is scheduled for March 26, 2025, at Stabler Athletic & Convocation Center at Lehigh University.
“As we continue further into 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 of Workforce Initiatives at MRC. “The 12th 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 first-hand the important benefits of STEM and CTE education in high school.”
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