from Manufacturers Resource Center
The Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) is proud to announce the 9th year of “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing®” (WSCM) in Berks and Schuylkill counties where MRC promotes CTE and STEM Education in middle school communities. This program heightens awareness for young people to be exposed to various manufacturing career paths.
The “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 use their curiosity and creativity to develop, shoot, edit, and produce a “cool” video to document their experiences. The contest is spearheaded by the Manufacturers Resource Center.
“MRC is proud to bring What’s So Cool About Manufacturing to the Berks and Schuylkill area for its 9th year,” stated Rich Hobbs, MRC President and CEO. “The program’s continued success and impact can be attributed to the efforts the teachers and students have put forth, along with the many partners and community sponsors committed to building a future workforce which will, in turn, support economic growth and expansion in the region.”
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. The statewide program is spearheaded by the Manufacturers Resource Center.
Student teams from 30 Berks and Schuylkill county middle schools are partnering with 30 area manufacturers to produce their video submissions. 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 19, 2025, for the Viewers Choice Award. The Berks Schuylkill Awards Event is scheduled for April 1, 2025, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Reading. Partnering with MRC in the Berks Schuylkill WSCM 2025 program is Berks Business Education Coalition (BBEC), Kutztown Small Business Development Center, eMediaWorks and Sahl Communications Inc.
This year, we are excited to announce the following participating schools and the featured manufacturers they are paired with:
Student Team and Featured Manufacturer
- Blue Mountain Middle School – Masser Family of Companies
- Boyertown Middle School East – Reading Truck
- Boyertown Middle School West – Morgan Truck Body
- Brandywine Heights Intermediate and Middle School – Glen-Gery
- Conrad Weiser Middle School – Alcon
- D.H.H. Lengel Middle School – Blaschak Anthracite
- Daniel Boone Middle School – PhytogenX Inc.
- Exeter Junior High School – Arkema
- Fleetwood Area Middle School – Unique Snacks
- Governor Mifflin Middle School – Carpenter Technology
- Hamburg Area Middle School – Materion Corporation
- Kerry C. Hoffman Intermediate School – MISCO Products Corporation
- Kutztown Area Middle School – Omnitech Automation Inc.
- Mahanoy Area Junior and Senior High School – Hydro
- Minersville Junior and Senior High School – Solar Innovations LLC
- Muhlenberg Middle School – Penske Racing Shocks
- North Schuylkill Junior and Senior High School – Cardinal Systems Inc.
- Northwest Middle School – Sweet Street Desserts
- Oley Valley Middle School – Viwinco Inc.
- Pine Grove Area Middle School – Ashland Technologies Inc.
- Schuylkill Haven Area High School – Zimmerman Shoes by Kepner Scott Shoe Co.
- Schuylkill Valley Middle School – EasyPak
- Shenandoah Valley Junior and Senior High School – EMD Electronics
- Southwest Middle School – American Polarizers Inc.
- Tamaqua Area Middle School – Hexcel Corporation
- Tri-Valley Junior and Senior High School – Big B Manufacturing Inc.
- Tulpehocken Area Middle School – Grosfillex
- Twin Valley Middle School – PtP Spanco Inc.
- Wilson Southern Middle School – Brentwood Industries Inc.
- Wilson West Middle School – Eagle Metals Inc.
“We are thrilled to kick off year nine of the WSCM program in Berks and Schuylkill,” said Karen Buck, Director of Workforce Initiatives for MRC. “The potential for careers in manufacturing are demonstrated first-hand by the manufacturers, and the students get excited about the possibility of working in a cool, modern environment that they may never have imagined. We encourage students to explore CTE and STEM education as they prepare for their high school years. The program creates limitless opportunities for both manufacturers and students.”
Visit WhatsSoCool.org and WSCM Video Library for more information and resources.
The post “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing®” Kicks Off 9th Year Building Awareness of Manufacturing Careers in Berks and Schuylkill appeared first on BCTV.
Source: bctv