The manufacturing industry in Chester and Delaware Counties was the focus Tuesday evening as several local manufacturers and schools were featured in the statewide “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” student video contest.

Over the past year, local students from nine area middle schools teamed up with area manufacturers to create 2-minute video profiles that feature what the manufacturers produce, how they make their products, and how working in a technology-driven environment can be a rewarding career. Videos were reviewed by a panel of judges and the public cast more than 17,000 votes for the Viewer’s Choice Award during three days of online voting.

“’What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?’ provides opportunities for students to explore careers in manufacturing outside of the classroom, and to gain necessary work ready skills to prepare them for future internships and employment,” said Patti VanCleave, Vice President of Workforce Development and STEM at the Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC).

Organized by CCEDC’s Manufacturing Alliance of Chester & Delaware Counties (MACC/DC) in collaboration with the Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC), the annual awards ceremony and manufacturing expo was held on Tuesday, April 18 at the Penn State Great Valley Conference Center in Malvern.

More than 250 people attended the event where the following winning schools and videos were announced:

• Outstanding Overall Video – Coatesville Area Intermediate High School (Team Black) profile of JGM Inc.
• Viewer’s Choice Award – Penn’s Grove Middle School profile of CPV Manufacturing

The following schools and manufacturers were also recognized for excellence:

• Outstanding Editing – Garnet Valley Middle School/ifm prover
• Outstanding Creativity – Delaware County Christian School/Nielsen-Kellerman
• Outstanding Videography – Collegium Charter School/ONExia Inc.
• Outstanding Manufacturing Message – Coatesville Area Intermediate High School (Team Red)/Aerzen
• Outstanding Outreach Plan – Penn’s Grove Middle School/CPV Manufacturing

Other student/manufacturer pairings included:

• Octorara Area Junior High School/Bender Inc.
• Springton Lake Middle School/Southco Inc.
• Great Valley Middle School/United Safety & Survivability Corporation

“The Manufacturing Alliance continues to promote and support ‘What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?’ because this spectacular program encourages today’s talented youth to become tomorrow’s employees for our local manufacturers,” said Sue Watras, Human Resources Manager, Pennsylvania Machine Works, & Board Chair of the Manufacturing Alliance of Chester & Delaware Counties.

Sponsors of the “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” student video competition and awards ceremony include CCRES Educational & Behavioral Health Services as Platinum Sponsor; Delaware County Community College and ifm prover as Gold Sponsors; New Way Air Bearings and Kreischer Miller as Silver Sponsors; Penn State Great Valley as Event Venue Sponsor.

All videos can be found at the “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” website.

For more information about CCEDC’s youth programming, including summer career camps, visit this website.