The planning committee for the “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” video contest is currently seeking schools and manufacturing companies to participate in its third annual contest.
The contest is between school districts in Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, McKean and Potter counties with teams of middle school students led by a committed teacher/coach. The contest begins in October with a mandatory training for the teacher/coach from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 3 and ends with an awards ceremony on March 12, 2019, at Ridgway Area High School.
Each school district is assigned a local manufacturing company to research, interview and film for a two-minute video that captures “What’s so cool about manufacturing?”
To a greatest extent, organizers encourage schools to identify youth who are likely to pursue a career in manufacturing in the region.
Each participating school district will have access to the following resources: All necessary video equipment and accessories, professionally recorded media training, updated teacher guide complimenting the media training series, additional training specifically focused on equipment usage and media editing (optional) and professional editing feedback throughout the project.
Each participating business agrees to the following: Providing a time for students to visit the company, providing access to three or four employees being interviewed in their work setting, providing written/video information to the students to enhance their company research, assigning a point person for correspondence throughout the project with the teacher coach, possibly making the products available for the students to see prior to filming, reviewing field trip waiver forms from school and provide additional forms if necessary, reviewing final video prior to publication for content accuracy (within three business days) and participating in the business expo/networking event which will be held prior to the awards ceremony.
The purpose of the video contest is to address the growing need for skilled workers for the middle to high-level technical jobs in advanced manufacturing as well as raising awareness among students, parents and educators with an accurate depiction of today’s manufacturing environments and career choices.
Visit www.whatssocool.org for more information about the video contest and other Dream it, Do it Pennsylvania activities and resources.
For more information, contact Pam Streich, Workforce Solutions for North Central PA, at pstreich@ncwdb.org or 814-245-1835.
