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@sahlcomm.com
484-554-5582
READING PA. March 19, 2026– Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) is proud to announce that online voting for the 10th anniversary year of the Berks Schuylkill What’s So Cool About Manufacturing Student Video Contest will commence Wednesday March 25, 12:01 AM and remain open until Friday March 27, 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 Tuesday April 14, 2026 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Reading.
Rich Hobbs
Student teams from 33 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 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 Berks Business Education Coalition, eMediaWorks, Kutztown Small Business Development Center, Sahl Communications, Inc., and many community sponsors remain committed to the sustainability of the program.
Educational media resources, technology, professional media training, materials, and project costs were funded and made possible by the following:
Technology Sponsor: Niagara Bottling
Event Sponsor: Reading Truck
Platinum Sponsors: American Crane & Equipment Corporation, Berks County Industrial Development Authority, Berks County Workforce Development Board, Customers Bank, East Penn Manufacturing, and Univest Financial
Gold Sponsors: American Polarizers, Inc., Carpenter Technology Corporation, County of Berks, Cresa, DeLux Dental, EnerSys, Fulton Bank, Hexcel Corporation, Hydro, M&T Bank, Materion, Reading Area Community College, Sweet Street Desserts, Inc., Tompkins Community Bank, Viwinco, Inc., and Weidenhammer
Silver Sponsors: Aerotek, Alvernia University, Ashland Technologies, Inc., Berks County Department of Agriculture, Big B Manufacturing Inc., Blaschak Anthracite, Brentwood Industries, Dynegy, Eagle Metals, Fromm Electric, Gage Talent & Business Solutions, Greater Reading Chamber Alliance, MI Windows and Doors, Mitsubishi Chemical Group, Mrs. T’s Pierogies, Northeast Prestressed Products, LLC, Omnitech Automation, Inc., Penske Racing Shocks, Penn State Berks, pladis, Reading Bakery Systems, R. M. Palmer Company, LLC, Schuylkill County, Solar Innovations, LLC, 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 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 38 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
Kim I Plyler
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