IMC Launches Inaugural “What’s so Cool About Manufacturing?” Student Video Contest
From IMC
The Innovative Manufacturers’ Center (IMC) is proud to announce the launch of the inaugural “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” Central Susquehanna student video contest for the 2019-2020 school year.
The “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” (WSCM) student video contest pairs student-teams with local manufacturers, providing middle school students a unique opportunity to learn what makes modern manufacturing cool and produce, shoot and edit a video that documents their experience. The program was created to generate excitement that draws students to consider manufacturing career paths.
“We are really excited to pilot this program in our school districts this year, and help it expand across the state” said Dan Manetta, Executive Director/CEO IMC. “STEM education is vitally important and our students will get a great opportunity see how cool our local manufacturers really are, and share their videos with the community.”
“What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” Central Susquehanna Region, produced by the Innovative Manufacturers’ Center, the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit and The Foundation of the Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce, will join 16 other regions across Pennsylvania this year, and students from seven schools will partner with seven manufacturers in Columbia, Northumberland, Snyder, Union and Montour counties. Among these manufacturers are Chamber members CSS Industries, SEKISUI SPI, Commercial Stainless and Autoneum.
The students’ videos will compete in the regional contest, culminating with public voting for Viewers Choice and an awards show April 2, 2020. WSCM Central Susquehanna will choose one video to represent the region in the 3rd Annual “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” PA Statewide Awards on April 29, 2020 in Harrisburg.
The “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” Central Susquehanna inaugural season is funded by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development and was created and initiated by the Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) in the Lehigh Valley in 2013. Innovative Manufacturer’s Center partners with eMediaWorks and Sahl Communications, Inc. to produce the program. For more information, visit whatssocool.org.
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 What’s So Cool 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 17 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, and CTE and STEM education.
About Innovative Manufacturer’s Center
Founded in 1988, the Innovative Manufacturers’ Center assists in connecting manufacturers in 12 Pennsylvania counties with the most effective regional, state and national resources to help companies innovate, grow and prosper. An affiliate of the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership and supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, IMC is one of seven industrial resource centers in Pennsylvania (Chamber member NEPIRC is another) and serves manufacturers in Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Union, Snyder, Clinton, Centre, Mifflin, Juniata, Huntington, Blair and Bedford Counties.