“What’s So Cool About Manufacturing®” Announces 2026 Lehigh Valley Awards 

“What’s So Cool About Manufacturing®” Announces 2026 Lehigh Valley Awards Online Votes Tally 321,908 and over 1,100 People Attended the Event, Broadcast Live on WFMZ 

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

LEHIGH VALLEY, PA – MARCH 25, 2026 – The Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) is proud to announce the award recipients for the What’s So Cool About Manufacturing® Lehigh Valley Student Video Contest awards, which featured 30 middle schools and manufacturers from Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, and Northampton counties. The ceremony was broadcast live on WFMZ, thanks to generous contributions from Air Products, Workforce Board Lehigh Valley, and WFMZ in partnership with Manufacturers Resource Center. Lehigh University’s Stabler Convocation and Events Center hosted the show and over 1,100 people attended the event, held Wednesday, March 25, 2026. 

Over a three-day voting period, the contest, which featured two-minute videos produced by each student team, received 321,908 votes. The video with the most votes received the “Viewers Choice Award.” Student videos were also reviewed by a panel of judges for awards in 11 other categories, including Outstanding Videography and Outstanding Creativity. Four winning teams in the region will represent the Lehigh Valley at the annual statewide competition in May. 

Preceding the main program, culinary arts programs from Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School, Carbon Career & Technical Institute, Career Institute of Technology, and Lehigh Career & Technical Institute hosted a dessert reception and cupcake competition in partnership with Northampton Community College’s Culinary Arts and Bakery & Pastry Programs. 

“As we reflect back over the last 13 years of What’s So Cool in the Lehigh Valley, it’s gratifying to see the growing talent and excitement of the students through their educational videos, as well as the enthusiasm from the community through voting and attendance,” said Karen Buck, Director, Workforce Initiatives at MRC. “This was a great contest year, and the hard work of the students, teachers and manufacturers is really evident. Being able to broadcast the awards event live, here at Lehigh University allows us to amplify the students’ efforts, as well as increase our impact in raising awareness about manufacturing career opportunities.” 

The 2026 video contest award winners are:  

Visit WhatsSoCool.org for more information and resources. Follow us on social media @wscmlv. 

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 Nordson Corporation 

Event Sponsors: ATAS International and Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. 

Platinum Sponsors: B. Braun Medical Inc., Capital Blue Cross, Crayola, Embassy Bank, Follett Corporation, Mack Trucks, Penn Community Bank, Pocono Counties Workforce Development Area, Stanley Black & Decker, Sumitomo, and Univest Financial   

Gold Sponsors: Aerotek, Alera Group, Allied Personnel, Bracalente Manufacturing Group, Cresa, FMI, Freshpet, Fulton Bank, HindlePower, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Just Born Quality Confections, Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, M&T Bank, Messer-US, Miller-Keystone Blood Center, PNC, Precision Roll Grinders, PSECU, Sharp Packaging Solutions, and Victaulic 

Silver Sponsors: AMPAL, Bosch Rexroth Corporation, C.F. Martin & Co., Inc., Compass Point, Dynalene, Dynegy powered by Vistra, Eastern Surfaces, Fromm Electric, Fuller Technologies, Gallagher, Kitchen Magic, Lehigh Carbon Community College, Lehigh County, Lehigh Valley LaunchBox, Lehigh Valley Plastics, Northampton Community College, Pennsylvania College of Technology, Pennsylvania Treasury, Quandel, and United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley 

Bronze Sponsors: Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School, Carbon Career & Technical Institute, Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit, Career Institute of Technology, County of Northampton, DaVinci Science Center, Lehigh Career & Technical Institute, LINC, National Museum of Industrial History, Primo, and US Anodize 

Media Sponsors: 99.9 The Hawk, Adams Outdoor Advertising, Lehigh Valley Business Journal, Lehigh Valley Public Media, WDIY, and WFMZ 69 News  

Cupcake Competitors: Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School, Career Institute of Technology, and Lehigh Career & Technical Institute  

Visit WhatsSoCool.org for more information and resources, and follow on social media @wscmlv. 

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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 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 jobs and economic opportunities in eastern Pennsylvania’s Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton, and Schuylkill counties.  

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Kim I Plyler CEO
SahlComm306 S New Street
Bethlehem, Pa 18015
c: 484-554-5582