For the second consecutive year, students from Nazareth Area Middle School won the top award in the What’s So Cool About Manufacturing® video contest for the Lehigh Valley area. 

The contest, created 12 years ago by the Manufacturers Resource Center, pairs teams of students with manufacturers to produce a video showcasing the innovative technologies that are used and the products that are made in today’s manufacturing. The goal is to introduce students to careers in manufacturing. 

The Nazareth students produced a video about Freshpet in Hanover Township, Northampton County. They also won the contest’s Viewers’ Choice Award.

Twenty-nine schools from Lehigh, Northampton, and Carbon counties participated in this year’s contest. Eleven won awards at a ceremony attended by more than 1,100 parents, company officials, educators, and other supporters on March 26 at Stabler Arena on the campus of Lehigh University. The event was broadcast live on WFMZ.

“Your videos show the kinds of jobs, the products, the technologies, and the amazing careers that await you in manufacturing,” said Rich Hobbs, President & CEO of Manufacturers Resource Center. “We drive by so many manufacturers every day, and we obviously don't know what goes on inside, but now we have a snapshot with these videos that have been presented to us.”

Hobbs thanked Lehigh Valley manufacturers for dedicating time to work with the student filmmakers, and to generate interest in manufacturing careers.

“Your participation in the What's So Cool Program has definitely helped promote advanced manufacturing careers,” he said. “The collaboration between the schools, the manufacturers, and the community in general are going a long way to help fill that manufacturing pipeline for the future.”

Manufacturing is a leading driver of the Lehigh Valley’s economy. About 750 manufacturers collectively produce an annual output of $9 billion, which makes up 16% of the region’s $55.7 billion Gross Domestic Product. Nationally, manufacturing makes up 12% of GDP.

The Lehigh Valley is among the Top 15% of manufacturing markets in the U.S.

The region’s location, within a day’s drive of one-third of U.S. consumers, and its skilled labor force, make it attractive for companies that produce things. Lehigh Valley manufacturers produce food and beverages, medical devices, technology, and consumer goods, among other items.

What’s So Cool About Manufacturing® debuted in the Lehigh Valley in 2013. It has since spread to 312 school districts across Pennsylvania, with more than 60% of the state’s districts participating. Other states have adopted the program, too.

Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. (LVEDC) is a gold sponsor of What’s So Cool About Manufacturing®. Karianne Gelinas, Vice President of Regional Partnerships and Talent Strategies at LVEDC, participated in the awards ceremony. 

"What’s So Cool About Manufacturing® is best in class," Gelinas said. "It connects manufacturers who have the jobs, educators who teach about careers, parents who influence their children’s decisions, and students who are the future of our workforce in an engaging competition that builds awareness and excitement about careers in manufacturing, one of our top employing industries here in the Lehigh Valley."

In a video message shown at the awards ceremony, Gov. Josh Shapiro congratulated the students.

“Together, you're telling the Pennsylvania story, how in factories and plants all across our commonwealth, Pennsylvania workers are manufacturing, processing, and packaging the products that folks and companies rely on every single day,” Shapiro said. “From the snacks in our pantries, to the semiconductors that power our phones, to the steel we use to build the bridges we drive on.”

Schools winning awards were:

Outstanding Overall Program: Nazareth Area Middle School – FreshPet Inc.

Outstanding Editing: Northeast Middle School – Sumitomo (SHI) Cryogenics of America, Inc.

Outstanding Creativity: Saucon Valley Middle School – Allen Organ Company

Outstanding Cool: Nitschmann Middle School – Solar Technology Inc.

Outstanding Team Spirit: Wind Gap Middle School – FMI

Outstanding Educational Value: Broughal Middle School – Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.

Outstanding Videography: Lower Macungie Middle School (LMMS) – Crayola

Viewers’ Choice: Nazareth Middle School – FreshPet, Inc.

Outstanding Outreach Plan: Springhouse Middle School – B. Braun Medical Inc.

Outstanding Career Pathway: Northampton Area Middle School - Victaulic

Best Career & Technical Education Story: Lehighton Area Middle School – Blue Ridge Pressure Castings

Outstanding Brand Placement: South Mountain Middle School – Just Born Quality Confections

Sweet Manufacturing Cupcake Award Winner: Career Institute of Technology (Preceding the awards program for the videos, 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). 

Four of Lehigh Valley’s winning middle school teams will represent the region at the annual statewide competition in May: Nazareth Area, Northeast, Saucon Valley, and Lower Macungie.

A school from the Lehigh Valley has won the previous three statewide competitions.

Last year, the student team at Broughal Middle School in Bethlehem won first place in the statewide competition for their video about Weaver Popcorn Manufacturing.

In 2023, students at Northeast Middle School in Bethlehem won first place, for their video about Stanley Black & Decker.

In 2022, students at Eyer Middle School in Macungie won first place, for their video about BlueTriton Brands. 

(Top photo courtesy of Sahl Communications, other photos by LVEDC)