For the third consecutive year, a middle school in the Lehigh Valley has won the top prize in the statewide What’s So Cool About Manufacturing® video competition.
The student team at Broughal Middle School in Bethlehem won first place for their video about Weaver Popcorn Manufacturing, a fourth-generation family owned company whose products include microwave popcorn and ready-to-eat popcorn.
Bangor Area Middle School won third place in the state contest, for their video about C.F. Martin & Co., producer of Martin Guitars.
What’s So Cool About Manufacturing®, created 11 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.
Manufacturing is a leading driver of the Lehigh Valley’s economy. More than 700 manufacturers collectively produce an annual output of $8.1 billion, which makes up 16% of the region’s $50.2 billion Gross Domestic Product. Nationally, manufacturing makes up 12% of GDP.
The teams from Broughal and Bangor Area middle schools were among four from the Lehigh Valley that advanced to the state competition, following the regional competition held earlier this year.
Other finalists were Nazareth Area Middle School for their video about KB Systems Inc., and Northampton Area Middle School for their video about Follett Products, LLC.
The winners were announced May 15 by Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger and Department of Labor & Industry Deputy Secretary Dan Kuba, along with students and manufacturing leaders from across the Commonwealth.
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration is seeking to invest more to drive growth in manufacturing in Pennsylvania. His proposed budget requests an additional $600 million for economic development, including $500 million to make sites shovel ready, such as one in Allentown that was awarded funding earlier this month.
“Congratulations to the winners, and every student team that submitted a video this year. The Shapiro Administration is proud of these efforts to show what’s so cool about manufacturing in Pennsylvania!” Siger said. “The talent and creativity our young people have displayed in creating these videos is amazing, and it makes me very confident about the future of Pennsylvania manufacturing.” 
What’s So Cool About Manufacturing® debuted in the Lehigh Valley in 2013 and has spread statewide and been adopted in 11 other states. More than 60% of Pennsylvania’s school districts have participated in the program since its inception.
“The goal of What’s So Cool has always been to make manufacturing attractive and cool in the eyes of middle school students so that a career in manufacturing and technical school education is on their radar,” said Rich Hobbs, President & CEO of Manufacturers Resource Center. “MRC commends the Shapiro Administration’s commitment to create and expand opportunities to build the strongest workforce in the nation.”
Last year, 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.
Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. (LVEDC) is a sponsor of What’s So Cool About Manufacturing®. Manufacturers Resource Center is a regional partner of LVEDC, and the video program aligns with LVEDC’s talent strategies by engaging students in career pathways exploration and influencing perceptions that students, teachers, and parents have about jobs in manufacturing.
(Photo courtesy of Sahl Communications).