Manufacturers Resource Center Kicks off Manufacturing Day, Launches Inside Manufacturing and Kicks off Fourth Year of “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?”
MRC Continues Movement to Generate Excitement Over Manufacturing Careers Program Expands Across the State
Greater Lehigh Valley, PA – October 7, 2016 – The Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) is proud to announce the fourth year of “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” (WSCM).
Presented on the Pennsylvania’s Dream It. Do It. (DIDI PA) platform, the “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” Student Video Contest gives 8th graders from over 25 school districts in Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon and Monroe counties the opportunity to connect directly with local manufacturers, document their experiences and present them in an educational and “cool” way through film media. The contest was created to generate excitement that draws students to consider manufacturing career paths. This year, there are 31 middle school teams partnered with 31 area-manufacturing companies. This expansion reflects the tremendous efforts MRC and its partners have put forth in the community.
“We are very pleased to launch WSCM for its fourth year here in the Lehigh Valley,” said Jack Pfunder, Pres/CEO of MRC. “The program’s success is spreading across the state of PA and around the country. The program, which promotes STEM education, helps foster a new understanding of opportunities in manufacturing careers. We are very grateful to our teaming partners at PBS39, DaVinci Science Center, and Lehigh Valley Workforce Development Board, who help make this program a success.”
Armed with a GoPro camera, teacher coach, specific guidelines, curiosity and creativity, each team will tour its respective manufacturer’s location and interview employees to gain a primary understanding of that field. The teams will then take their footage and translate what they find to be cool about that manufacturing company or industry into a short video. Training videos that were created last year for educators are Emmy award winning.
“STEM education is important to ensure that all students in Pennsylvania have every opportunity for success,” said Teri Haddad, EdD, VP of Production and Education for PBS39. “PBS39 is proud to collaborate with the Manufacturers Resource Center and local companies who commit time, energy and resources for the success of students.
The students’ video submissions will be posted on DIDI PA’s website and YouTube channel. The videos will be open to the public for voting in mid-February for the Viewer’s Choice Award, and judges will determine best videos in a variety of other categories. At the end of February, students, parents, educators, manufacturing leaders, community sponsors, local legislators and project partners will gather for an award ceremony to announce and acknowledge winning teams. Last year, over 110,000 votes were cast during the three-day period. Last year’s video submissions are available for viewing on DIDI PA’s website. Original funding was furnished by grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).
In addition to kicking off Manufacturing Day with the launch of WSCM fourth season, MRC has scheduled private tours for high school students at 15 area companies throughout the month of October. For those not able to visit a facility, MRC has partnered with PBS 39 to create an online video series called Inside Manufacturing, which invites the community to take a look behind the doors at 12 area manufacturing facilities. For more information on Inside Manufacturing log on to www.MRC.org
Click HERE to view “Inside Manufacturing” videos (click on the logos)
Visit dreamitdoitpa.com for more information and resources.
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About “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing”:
Developed by Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC), WSCM program is a video based educational tool that increases awareness of career paths in manufacturing. MRC developed this innovative career awareness program that at its core is “peer marketing” (kids telling kids what’s so cool about manufacturing jobs). The contest is showcased on the Dream It Do It PA Website, and shared nationally through the Manufacturing Institute and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership platforms. The Lehigh Valley contest is expanding across the Commonwealth and the country. Inside Pennsylvania there will be eight regions conducting contests this year.
This contest gives students the opportunity 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.
About Dream It. Do It. Pennsylvania:
Dream It. Do It. PA is a partnership directed by the Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) in Allentown, Pa., and is dedicated to changing perceptions and attitudes in the Keystone State about advanced manufacturing careers. Dream It. Do It. PA started in 2013 as an effort called Lehigh Valley Skill Up to raise awareness in the Lehigh Valley area. The popularity of the partnership’s flagship student video contests and its rights to the national Dream It. Do It. brand for Pennsylvania have enabled it to expand its reach throughout the commonwealth. Dream It. Do It. PA provides resources for Pennsylvania’s students, parents, educators, and manufacturers on the web at dreamitdoitpa.com, efforts of coalitions from other Pennsylvania regions to host video contests and promote advanced manufacturing careers. Original funding was furnished by grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). Original Partners for Dream It. Do It. PA include the Lehigh Valley Workforce Development Board (LVWDB), Da Vinci Science Center; Lehigh Career and Technical Institute (LCTI) in Schnecksville, Pa.; PBS39 Lehigh Valley in Bethlehem, Pa.; Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School (BAVTS) in Bethlehem, Pa.; Career Institute of Technology (CIT) in Easton, Pa; and Carbon Career & Technical Institute (CCTI) in Jim Thorpe, Pa.
About Manufacturers Resource Center:
For over 25 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, as well as the State of Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development. The MRC is dedicated to creating jobs and economic opportunity in eastern Pennsylvania’s Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton, and Schuylkill counties.