“What’s So Cool About Manufacturing®” Sponsors Continue Support for 10th Annual Contest Berks & Schuylkill County Video Contest Program Celebrates Growth, Recognition, and Raising Awareness of PA Manufacturing Careers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: kim@sahlcomm.com
484-554-5582
Reading, PA – February 25, 2026 - Celebrating 10 years in Berks and Schuylkill Counties, the 2026 “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing®” Student Video Contest welcomes 33 manufacturers and middle school teams. Since its inception, this local contest format, created by Manufacturers Resource Center, has been replicated by sixteen regional contests, and adopted by stakeholders in 12 additional states. Top state officials have recognized the program, and dozens of sponsors continue to support “What’s So Cool,” making it possible year after year.
The program’s goal is to increase awareness of manufacturing careers by showcasing “What’s So Cool” about today’s technology and career opportunities at manufacturers right here in our region. Student teams produce a two-minute profile video of their partnered manufacturer and create an Outreach Plan strategizing how to share their final video with their school community. All videos will be posted on the “What’s So Cool” website WhatsSoCool.org and will be open to the public for voting March 25-27, 2026 for the Viewers Choice Award. The Berks Schuylkill Awards Event is scheduled for April 14, 2026 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Reading.
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, 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 Personnel, Greater Reading Chamber Alliance, Mitsubishi Chemical Group, Mrs. T’s Pierogies, Northeast Prestressed Products, LLC, Omnitech Automation, Inc., Penn State Berks, Penske Racing Shocks, 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.
-###-
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 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
306 S New St
Bethlehem, Pa 18015c:
484-554-5582