After a record-setting 20,000 votes from the public, in addition to evaluations from a panel of judges, middle school students from Chester County were recognized for their creative videos about local manufacturing companies and exciting careers in manufacturing during the red carpet awards ceremony for the regional What’s So Cool About Manufacturing? video contest. This is the 10th year of this locally sponsored event.
Held April 9 at Penn State Great Valley Conference Center in Malvern and organized by the Chester County Economic Development Council’s Manufacturing Alliance of Chester & Delaware Counties (MACC/DC), the annual event and manufacturing expo showcased the first-hand knowledge students gained by participating in the program and producing videos that spark interest in manufacturing careers.
Over the past year, local students from eight middle schools teamed up with ten area manufacturers to create two-minute video profiles featuring what the manufacturers produce, how they make their products, and why working in a technology-driven environment can be rewarding.
Videos were evaluated by judges, and the public cast more than 20,000 votes for the Viewer’s Choice Award during three days of online voting in March.
The event welcomed more than 250 people who celebrated the winning schools and videos:
- Viewer’s Choice Award – Octorara Junior High School
The following schools and manufacturers were also recognized for excellence:
- Outstanding Editing – Penn’s Grove Middle School – Maroon Team
- Outstanding Videography – Penn’s Grove Middle School – White Team
- Outstanding Outreach Plan – Great Valley Middle School
“This event is successful year after year because of the local manufacturing companies who work with us to advance the next generation of our region’s manufacturing workforce,” said Jim Lauckner of Manufacturing Alliance of Chester and Delaware Counties. “We encourage and welcome newcomers to participate in CCEDC’s Manufacturing Alliance industry partnership to support your industry goals while collaborating with a supportive network of fellow manufacturers from across the region.”
Supporters included Chester County Department of Workforce Development, CCRES – Educational and Behavioral Health Services, JGM, ifm prover, and Penn State Great Valley.
All videos can be found at What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?
