The sixth annual “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” Student Video Contest has a total of 29 middle schools teams participating this year from Berks and Schuylkill counties. There are eight regional contests scheduled in Pennsylvania for the 2021-2022 school year, and qualifying student teams will advance to the WSCM Statewide Awards in May held at the Whitaker Center for Science & Arts in Harrisburg.

The contest format, created by Manufacturers Resource Center in Berks and Schuylkill counties, has also been adopted by groups in 11 additional states and gained recognition and support from Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf.

“What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” presented by MRC is a video contest that gives students in Berks and Schuylkill counties the opportunity to connect directly with local manufacturers, document their experiences and present them in an educational and “cool” way through documentary video production. The contest was created to generate excitement that draws students toward considering manufacturing career paths to create a 21st century workforce. The eight regional Pennsylvania programs are supported by area sponsors and partners.

“We are so thrilled that the collective success of the regional programs has earned attention from stakeholders and elected officials throughout Pennsylvania. There is great educational value in the efforts put forth by student teams and their manufacturing partners supporting WSCM’s mission to raise awareness about manufacturing career opportunities in their community. The program design is validated by educating students, parents, teachers and other community members about what a career in manufacturing looks like firsthand,” says Rich Hobbs, President & CEO of Manufacturers Resource Center.

Partnering with Manufacturers Resource Center for the project planning are Berks Business-Education Coalition, Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center, eMediaWorks, and Sahl Communications Inc.

Educational media resources, GoPro Camera kits, professional media training from eMediaWorks, materials and project costs were funded and made possible by many sponsors including Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, Schuylkill County Intermediate Unit and Schuylkill Technology Center.

Public Voting for Berks Schuylkill “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing” student videos will be open April 6-8 on the What’s So Cool website, WhatsSoCool.org, for the Viewers Choice Award.

This year’s Berks Schuylkill Awards will be April 25.