Voting Begins for What’s So Cool About Manufacturing® Berks Schuylkill Video Contest
Student Video Contest’s Online Voting Winner Joins Eleven Other Awards
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kim Plyler
kim@sahlcomm.com
484-554-5582
READING PA. – March 5, 2024 – The Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) is proud to announce online voting for the 8th anniversary year of the Berks Schuylkill What’s So Cool About Manufacturing Student Video Contest will commence Monday April 8, 12:01 AM and remain open until Wednesday April 10, 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 the contest awards event on Monday, April 15th at the DoubleTree by Hilton Reading.
Student teams from 26 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 Best CTE Story, Outstanding Editing and Outstanding Creativity.
“We are excited to celebrate the growth of our Berks Schuylkill contest at our annual awards event,” says Rich Hobbs, MRC President & CEO. “While we anticipate another record-breaking voting response, 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.”
The What’s So Cool About Manufacturing Student Video Contest format, created by Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC), 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 Video Contest, as well as to vote for your favorite student team videos, visit WhatsSoCool.org and follow on social media @WSCMBerksSch.
The program’s continued success and growth in Berks and Schuylkill Counties are attributed to the efforts the teachers and students have put forth in the community since 2016. MRC and its partners Kutztown Small Business Development Center, eMediaWorks, Sahl Communications, Inc., and many community sponsors remain committed to the sustainability of the program.
Educational media resources, GoPro Camera kits, professional media training, materials, and project costs were funded and made possible by the following:
Leadership Sponsor: Tee4MFG.com & WiM
Technology Sponsor: Berks County Workforce Development Board
Event Sponsor: Customers Bank
Platinum Sponsors: Berks County Industrial Development Authority, East Penn Manufacturing Company, EMD Electronics, Reading Truck, and Univest Financial
Gold Sponsors: American Crane & Equipment Corporation, Clearly Clean, County of Berks, DeLux Dental Laboratory, First Energy Foundation, Fulton Bank, Hydro, M&T Bank, MISCO Products, Mitsubishi Chemical Group, Reading Area Community College, Reading Bakery Systems, Tompkins Community Bank, Unique Snacks, Viwinco, Inc., and Weidenhammer
Silver Sponsors: Aerotek, American Polarizers, Inc, Arkema, Ashland Technologies, Inc., Blaschak Anthracite, Brentwood Industries, Cambridge-Lee Industries LLC, Cardinal Systems, Inc., Eagle Metals, Fromm Electric, Gage Personnel, Greater Reading Chamber Alliance, Hexcel, Hubric Resources, Materion, Morgan Truck, Prysmian Group-Schuylkill Haven, Penn State Berks, Sterman Masser Inc, Sweet Street Desserts, Inc., and The Rose Corporation
Bronze Sponsors: Berks Career & Technology Center, Berks County Intermediate Unit, PhytogenX, Reading Muhlenberg Career & Technology Center, Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, Schuylkill County Intermediate Unit, and Schuylkill Technology Center
Media Sponsors: BCTV, Lamar, Lehigh Valley Business Journal, Reading Eagle, and WFMZ 69 News
Visit WhatsSoCool.org for more information and follow on social media @WSCMBerksSchuyl.
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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 MRC community career awareness program 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 CTE 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.
Kim I Plyler, CEO
SahlComm
+1 484-554-5582
kim@sahlcomm.com