Lehigh Valley Video Contest Student Video Contest’s Online Voting Winner Joins Eleven Other Awards

Lehigh Valley, PA. – Monday March 11, 2024 – The Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) is proud to announce online voting for the 11th anniversary year of the Lehigh Valley What’s So Cool About Manufacturing Student Video Contest will commence Wednesday March 13, 12:01 AM and remain open until Friday, March 15, 11:59 PM at www.whatssocool.org. Voting is open to contest participants and the public, who may vote for more than one video and as often as they wish. The winner will be announced during this year’s awards event, broadcast live on WFMZ on Tuesday, March 26 at 7:00 PM.

Student teams from 30 regional middle school teams compete for the most votes to win the coveted “Viewers Choice Award.” The videos will also be reviewed by a panel of judges for awards in eleven other categories, including Outstanding Career Pathway, Outstanding Editing and Outstanding Creativity.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the 11th year of What’s So Cool with the Lehigh Valley community at our annual awards event,” says Rich Hobbs, MRC President & CEO. “While we look forward to the public joining the online voting campaign, what we love seeing most is the hard work and collaboration between the students, teachers and manufacturers, as well as the impact of sharing their message about manufacturing opportunities right here in our region.

” Since its inception, the What’s So Cool About Manufacturing Student Video Contest format, created by Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) here in the Lehigh Valley, has been replicated by sixteen regional contests, and adopted by stakeholders in 12 additional states.

For more information regarding the What’s So Cool About Manufacturing career awareness program, as well as to vote for your favorite student team videos, visit WhatsSoCool.org and follow on social media @WSCMLV.

The program’s continued success and growth are attributed to the efforts the teachers and students have put forth in the community since its inception. MRC, project partners eMediaWorks, Sahl Communications, Inc., and EmpowerStar Enterprises, and community sponsors are committed to its sustainability. The 11th annual Awards Show at Stabler Athletic & Convocation Center in Bethlehem will be broadcast live on WFMZ-TV on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, and made possible through the generosity of Air Products, Workforce Board Lehigh Valley, and WFMZ.

Educational media resources, GoPro Camera kits, professional media training, materials, and project costs were funded and made possible by the following:

Leadership Sponsors: Air Products, Lehigh University, and Workforce Board Lehigh Valley

Event Sponsors: ATAS International, Lutron Electronics Co., Inc., and PPL Electric

Utilities Platinum Sponsors: ABEC, BlueTriton Brands, B. Braun Medical Inc., CliftonLarsonAllen, Crayola, Embassy Bank, Follett Products LLC, Pocono Counties Workforce Development Area, Solar Technology Inc., Stanley Black & Decker, and Univest

Financial Networking Sponsor: Banyan Partners

Gold Sponsors: Aerotek, Fulton Bank, Gross McGinley, LLP, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, Lehigh Valley Plastics, M&T Bank, Mack Trucks, MillerKeystone Blood Center, Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., PNC, Precision Roll Grinders, Sharp Packaging, and Victaulic

Silver Sponsors: Allied Personnel, Bosch Rexroth Corporation, C.F. Martin & Co., Dynalene, Eastern Surfaces, FMI, Fromm Electric, HindlePower, HMK Insurance, JULABO USA, Just Born Quality Confections, Kitchen Magic, Lehigh Carbon Community College, Lehigh County, Northampton Community College, Penn State University Lehigh Valley Campus, Piramal Critical Care Inc, Prototek, and PSECU

Bronze Sponsors: Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School, Carbon Career & Technical Institute, Carbon Chamber & Economic Development Corporation, Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit, Career Institute of Technology, County of Northampton, DaVinci Science Center, Lehigh Career & Technical Institute, and National Museum of Industrial History

Media Sponsors: 99.9 The Hawk, Adams Outdoor Advertising, Lehigh Valley Business Journal, WDIY, and WFMZ 69 News

Cupcake Competitors: Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School, Career Institute of Technology, and Lehigh Career & Technical Institute

Cupcake Judges: Carlo’s Bakery and Northampton Community College Hartzell Hall

Visit WhatsSoCool.org for more information and resources, and follow on social media @wscmlv.

 

 

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 and technology in manufacturing through “peer marketing” (kids telling kids what’s so cool about manufacturing jobs). The contest is showcased on the What’s So Cool Website and shared nationally through the Manufacturing Institute and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership platforms. The Lehigh Valley contest has expanded across the Commonwealth and the country.

The “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing” comprehensive manufacturing video library was created by MRC and WSCM PA in 2020 and funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (PADCED). The interactive library of the who’s who in Pennsylvania manufacturing, garnered from the yearly regional contests, is intended to serve as an educational resource for anyone curious about manufacturing in Pennsylvania. The library can be accessed through the WhatsSoCool.org website and contains 1128 student videos featuring over 600 Pennsylvania manufacturers.

This contest allows students to connect with local manufacturers, document their experiences, and present them in an educational and “cool” way. The contest was created to generate excitement that draws students towards manufacturing career paths, and CTC and STEM education. Original funding for “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing” was furnished by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (PADCED).

 

About Manufacturers Resource Center: For 35 years, the Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) has helped small and mid-sized manufacturers become more competitive, adopt lean and agile processes, strategically grow their companies, and invest more effectively in their existing human capital. MRC is a nonprofit organization partially funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s NIST-MEP program and the State of Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development. MRC is dedicated to creating jobs and economic opportunities in eastern Pennsylvania’s Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton, and Schuylkill counties. Learn more at www.mrcpa.org.

 

Information provided to TVL by:
Carbon Chamber & Economic Development