The Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) is proud to announce the award recipients for the “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” Berks Schuylkill student video contest awards. The awards ceremony was held, thanks to generous contributions from community sponsorships, in partnership with Manufacturers Resource Center and teaming partners Berks Business-Education Coalition, Kutztown Small Business Development Center, eMediaWorks, and Sahl Communications, Inc. The WSCM program was created by the Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) in 2013.

Twenty-nine student teams compete for the most votes to win the coveted "Viewers Choice Award” with voting online open to all for a 3-day period. Videos were also reviewed by a panel of judges for awards in nine other categories, including Outstanding Career Pathway, Outstanding Editing and Outstanding Creativity.

The WSCM contest, presented by MRC, partners students from 29 schools in Berks and Schuylkill counties with 29 local manufacturers. Each student team created and promoted a short video that documented their experience, highlighting what is “cool” about manufacturing at their assigned manufacturer. The winning videos in the region will be considered to represent the Berks Schuylkill program at the annual statewide competition in May in Harrisburg.

“The student video contest is gaining more and more momentum every year. The combination of the way this creative program is structured, the hard work of the students, teachers and manufacturers and the excitement within the community make the WSCM contest a unique experience and an effective career awareness program,” said Rich Hobbs, President and CEO at MRC. “The message in the student videos about today’s manufacturing environments and career opportunities is amplified by the incredible support from the community and manufacturers going above and beyond with enthusiastic social media engagement and grass roots outreach approach.”

The WSCM contest, presented by MRC, gives students a new perspective on modern manufacturing as they engage with local manufacturers, recording and presenting their experiences in an educational and “cool” way through documentary video production.

The program was created to generate excitement that draws students toward CTE and STEM education opportunities and to consider manufacturing career paths.