Kicking off MRC’s 11th Year of “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing®” 2026/27 Berks Schuylkill County Student-Manufacturer Teams

Kicking off MRC’s 11th Year of “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing®” 2026/27 Berks Schuylkill County Student-Manufacturer Teams MRC and Local Manufacturers continue to spread Awareness of Manufacturing Careers in Berks and Schuylkill Counties

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: kim@sahlcomm.com
484-554-5582

Reading, PA – October 13, 2026 – The Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) is proud to announce the 11th year of “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing®” (WSCM) in Berks and Schuylkill counties where MRC promotes Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education in middle school communities. The program introduces young people to exciting career paths in the manufacturing sector. 

Rich Hobbs

The “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing” student video contest provides 7th and 8th grade students with a unique opportunity to connect directly with local manufacturers. Students build on their curiosity and apply their creativity to develop, shoot, edit, and produce a “cool” video to document their experiences. “MRC is proud to launch ‘What’s So Cool About Manufacturing’ in the Berks and Schuylkill area for its 11th year,” states Rich Hobbs, MRC President & CEO. “The program’s continued success and impact can be attributed to the dedication of the teachers and students, the engagement of parents, the support from school district administrators, and the commitment of many community stakeholders to building a future workforce,” he concludes. 

Student teams will partner with manufacturers in twelve regions across Pennsylvania this year, competing in regional contests before advancing to the annual Statewide Awards in Harrisburg, where their videos will be showcased. The contest is spearheaded by Manufacturers Resource Center.

Student teams from 31 Berks and Schuylkill County middle schools are partnering with 31area 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 April 5, 2027, for the Viewers Choice Award. The Berks Schuylkill Awards Event is scheduled for April 13, 2027, at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Reading, PA. Partnering with MRC for the Berks Schuylkill WSCM 2027 program is Berks Business Education Coalition (BBEC), eMediaWorks, and Sahl Communications, Inc.

This year, MRC is excited to announce the following participating schools and the featured manufacturers they are paired with: 

“We are delighted to announce the 11th annual WSCM program in Berks and Schuylkill counties,” said Karen Buck, Director of Workforce Initiatives for MRC. “Middle school teams collaborate with their local manufacturers to explore diverse career opportunities and learn about modern manufacturing environments. We encourage students to consider CTE and STEM education as they prepare for high school and consider future careers. The program creates valuable opportunities for both students and manufacturers.” 

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, featuring who’s who in Pennsylvania manufacturing and compiled 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 1,602 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 over 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. 

Kim I Plyler
CEO SahlComm
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