Kicking off MRC’s 13th Anniversary for “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing®” Lehigh Valley’s Student-Manufacturer Teams Are Announced

Kicking off MRC’s 13th Anniversary for “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing®” Lehigh Valley’s Student-Manufacturer Teams Are Announced
Lehigh University Returns as Premier Sponsor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 16, 2025
Contact: kim@sahlcomm.com
484-554-5582                                                

Lehigh Valley, PA –October 16, 2025– The 13th Anniversary launches the “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing®” (WSCM) program.  The ever-evolving student video contest kicks off this year in the Lehigh Valley with 30 middle schools from Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, and Northampton counties.  “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing” culminates with an awards event in March 2026. The contest was created to generate excitement that draws students towards manufacturing career paths, while promoting CTE and STEM education.

In 13 years, the WSCM program has gained momentum and been implemented across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and several other states.  The Lehigh Valley planning team has been leading the expansion and will continue to grow the WSCM program across the United States.  More than 7000 students from around the commonwealth, 700 manufacturers, and 60% of Pennsylvania school districts resulted from MRC’s launch of WSCM in 2013.  Over the past decade, MRC created the WSCM Video Library housed on the WhatsSoCool.org website which now includes 1,436 student-created manufacturing profile videos and is a much sought-after resource for education and economic development. True bonds formed between the ‘Valley’ manufacturers and middle school students will last for decades to come!

“The expansion of the What’s So Cool About Manufacturing program across Pennsylvania and the United States means more career awareness in the manufacturing sector among students, teachers, and parents. This year’s Lehigh Vally Awards event will be held at Lehigh University’s Stabler Athletic & Convocation Center on March 25, 2026,” said Rich Hobbs, MRC President & CEO. “Lehigh’s support of the program as Premier Sponsor grows visibility for our manufactures in eastern Pennsylvania.”

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.    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.  The contest is spearheaded by Manufacturers Resource Center.

“Creating “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing” and expanding the Lehigh Valley program’s growth and impact throughout Pennsylvania these last 13 years has been a true accomplishment,” said Karen Buck, Director, Workforce Initiatives at MRC.  “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 and supports economic growth.”

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, 2026 for the Viewers Choice Award. The Lehigh Valley Awards Event is scheduled for Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Stabler Athletic & Convocation Center at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa. The Awards will be broadcast live on WFMZ-TV. 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 and its partners eMediaWorks, Sahl Communications, Inc., and EmpowerStar Enterprises and the many community sponsors are committed to its sustainability.

For its 13th year, MRC is proud to announce the following participating schools and their featured manufacturers:

“The 13th 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 the community benefits from viewing their final video stories,” Buck said.

Visit WhatsSoCool.org and WSCM Video Library for more information and resources.

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About “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing®”:

Developed by the 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 almost 1436 student videos featuring over 700 Pennsylvania manufacturers. https://www.whatssocool.org/video-library/

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.