Voting Begins for “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing®” Lehigh Valley Video Contest Online Voting Winner Joins Ten Other Awards
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kim Plyler
kim@sahlcomm.com
484-554-5582
Lehigh Valley, PA. – March 12, 2025 – The Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) is proud to announce online voting for the 12th anniversary year of the Lehigh Valley What’s So Cool About Manufacturing Student Video Contest will commence on Monday March 17, 12:01 AM and remain open until Weds, March 19, 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 this year’s awards event, held at Lehigh University’s Stabler Athletic and Convocation Center and broadcast live on WFMZ on Weds, March 26th at 7:00 PM.
Student teams from 29 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 ten other categories, including Outstanding Career Pathway, Outstanding Editing and Outstanding Creativity.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the 12th year of What’s So Cool with the Lehigh Valley community at our annual awards event,” says Rich Hobbs, MRC President & CEO. “While we anticipate a 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.”
Since its inception, the What’s So Cool About Manufacturing Student Video Contest format, created by Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) here in the Lehigh Valley, has been replicated by sixteen regional contests, and adopted by stakeholders in 11 additional states.
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 project partners eMediaWorks, Sahl Communications, Inc., and EmpowerStar Enterprises, and the community sponsors are committed to its sustainability.
Educational media resources, GoPro Camera kits, professional media training, materials, and project costs were funded and made possible by the following:
Premier Sponsor: Lehigh University
Leadership Sponsors: Air Products and Workforce Board Lehigh Valley
Technology Sponsor: PPL Electric Utilities and Penn Community Bank
Event Sponsors: ATAS International, Freshpet, and Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
Platinum Sponsors: Avalon Insurance Company, B. Braun Medical Inc., Capital BlueCross, Carbon County Community Foundation, CliftonLarsonAllen, Crayola, Embassy Bank, Pocono Counties Workforce Development Area, Stanley Black & Decker, Sumitomo, and Univest Financial Corporation
Gold Sponsors: Aerotek, Alera Group (Formerly HMK Insurance) | Chubb, Allied Personnel, Fulton Bank, Gross McGinley, LLP, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Just Born Quality Confections, Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, Lehigh Valley Plastics, M&T Bank, Mack Trucks, Messer-US, Miller-Keystone Blood Center, Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., PNC, Precision Roll Grinders, PSECU, and Victaulic
Silver Sponsors: ABEC, Ampal, B.T.M Incorporated, Bracalente Manufacturing Group, C.F. Martin & Co., Inc., County of Northampton, dsm-firmenich, Dynalene, Eastern Surfaces, Equinox, FMI, Fromm Electric, Highwood USA, HindlePower, JULABO USA, Kitchen Magic, Lehigh Carbon Community College, Lehigh County, Northampton Community College, Penn State Lehigh Valley, Piramal Critical Care Inc., Prototek, Sharp Packaging, and The Brynavon Group
Bronze Sponsors: Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School, BlueTriton Brands, Carbon Career & Technical Institute, Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit, Career Institute of Technology, DaVinci Science Center, Lehigh Career & Technical Institute, and National Museum of Industrial History.
Media Sponsors: 99.9 The Hawk, Adams Outdoor Advertising, Lehigh Valley Business Journal, WDIY, and WFMZ 69 News
Cupcake Competitors: Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School, Carbon Career & Technical Institute, Career Institute of Technology, and Lehigh Career & Technical Institute
Visit WhatsSoCool.org for more information and resources, and follow on social media @wscmlv.
For more information regarding the What’s So Cool About Manufacturing career awareness program, as well as to vote for your favorite student team videos, visit WhatsSoCool.org and follow on social media @WSCMLV.
###
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 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 1,273 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 CTC 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.org.
Kim I Plyler, CEO
SahlComm
306 S New Street
Bethlehem, Pa 18015
c: 484-554-5582