EXTON, PA — With the state and national focus on reviving the manufacturing industry in America, students from 12 local schools from across Chester County and Delaware County gathered Wednesday night to find out who won the student video competition “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing.”
Over the past year, the students teamed up with local manufacturers to create 2-minute video profiles that show what the manufacturers produce and how they make their products in a technology-driven environment that can provide rewarding careers. Videos were reviewed by a panel of judges. Public participation in a Viewer’s Choice Award resulted in more than 27,000 votes online.
Supported by the Office of Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf as well as the Chester County Economic Development Council’s Manufacturing Alliance of Chester & Delaware Counties, the following winning schools and videos were announced at an awards ceremony at Penn State – Great Valley in Malvern:
- Outstanding Team Spirit – Collegium Charter School – Teams 1 & 2
- Outstanding Overall Video – Garnet Valley Middle School
- Outstanding Videography – Owen J Roberts Middle School
- Outstanding Manufacturing Message – Springton Lake Middle School
- Outstanding Creativity– Downingtown STEM Academy
- Outstanding Editing – Delaware County Christian School
- Outstanding Poster Placement – Penn’s Grove School
- Viewer’s Choice Award – E.T. Richardson Middle School
Manufacturing is critical to Pennsylvania’s economy, accounting for nearly 12% of the state’s total output each year or roughly $93 billion. However, a 2018 skills gap study from the National Association of Manufacturers predicts as many as 2.4 million well-paid manufacturing jobs in the United States will be unfilled by 2028.
“Opening the doors to our local manufacturers is a powerful way to engage and educate on the exciting career opportunities available here in Chester and Delaware Counties,” says Eric Stone of Genesis Packaging Technologies and program chair of The Manufacturing Alliance of Chester and Delaware Counties. “These young minds will be the catalyst for driving future innovation within our companies. Our manufacturing leaders, along with parents and educators, are committed to exposing students to the potential within a skilled technical workforce.”
“Today’s jobs in manufacturing are technologically challenging, and the result is a gratifying career path for skilled workers,” says Gary Smith, President and CEO of the Chester County Economic Development Council. “CCEDC is focused on partnering with our region’s manufacturing industry to help to develop the next generation of workforce talent.”
Participating schools & manufacturers:
- Downingtown STEM Academy – ONExia
- Collegium Charter School – USSC Group
- Collegium Charter School – John Rock Inc.
- Garnet Valley Middle School – Southco
- Octorara Junior High School – RV Industries Inc.
- Owen J Roberts Middle School – Bender Inc.
- Penn’s Grove Middle School – Aerzen USA Corporation
- Phoenixville Middle School – ifm prover USA
- ET Richardson Middle School – New Way Air Bearings
- Northley Middle School – Pennsylvania Machine Works
- Springton Lake Middle School – Lasko Products
- Delaware County Christian School – Infiana
“What’s So Cool About Manufacturing” is brought to you by The Manufacturing Alliance of Chester & Delaware Counties, which is an initiative of the Chester County Economic Development Council and Delaware County Community College and is funded in part by the private sector with grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry through the Chester County Workforce Development Board (WDB).
For more information about CCEDC’s youth programming, including summer career camps, go to steminnovationpa.org.
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