A video by students at Northeast Middle School in Bethlehem won first place in the statewide competition of “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing.”
The students created a video about Stanley Black & Decker’s facility in Upper Macungie Township that produces custom storage cabinets and toolboxes that are used in many settings, including by mechanics, the Navy, and aircraft and other industrial manufacturers.
The video, which runs about two-and-a-half minutes, shows workers making the products and includes interviews with company officials about the operations.
It explains the types of work that occurs at Black & Decker, such as design, material handling, welding, and powder coating, and the education that is needed to perform those tasks.
Manufacturing is the top sector of the Lehigh Valley’s economy, with more than 750 manufacturers generating an output of $8.4 billion in 2021. Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. (LVEDC) collaborates with colleges, universities, and technical and career schools to develop a workforce with the skills that manufacturers need.
The “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing” competition, which was started 10 years ago by the Manufacturers Resource Center in Allentown, exposes students to manufacturing and showcases it as a potential career. The contest gives students the opportunity to interact with local manufacturers as they gain new perspectives about careers and technology.
“The continued success of the What’s So Cool program validates its effort to generate excitement toward manufacturing career pathways and promote STEM and CTE education statewide and nationwide,” said Karen Buck, Director of Workforce Initiatives at the Manufacturers Resource Center. “We are so excited and proud to celebrate the Best of PA 2023 student teams and highlight their videos!”
More than 60% of Pennsylvania’s school districts have participated in the program since its inception.
To advance to this year’s statewide competition, students had to win regional competitions that included a total of 150 teams.
The statewide competition featured 22 finalists, including two others from the Lehigh Valley: Lower Macungie Middle School’s video about B. Braun Medical and Nitschmann Middle School’s video about ABEC.