April 3, 2024 – Student teams at NINE schools in Bedford, Blair and Fulton Counties spent weeks creating informational videos featuring local manufacturers for the What’s So Cool About Manufacturing® in the Southern Alleghenies video contest. Now, they need the community’s participation to help their hard work pay off—and it’s as easy as a click.

Important benefits to students

For the contest, each student team was paired with a local manufacturer and charged with researching, scripting, recording, and editing a video about their partner company. In addition to learning teamwork, project management, and other important skills, the students got an inside look at the worthwhile career opportunities available in manufacturing across the region.

A key tool for talent recruitment

Local manufacturers invest their time in this innovative program to expose future talent to the abundant career possibilities available in manufacturing right here in their communities. BC Stone, Inc. Vice President Aaron Miller said the program “allows young people to see the different options available as career choices and they learn that a job they never knew existed could be a viable and rewarding career.”

Community support impacts students: Viewers Choice Vote

Community members play an important role in encouraging and rewarding the students’ efforts. All are encouraged to take part in the Viewers Choice Vote, April 9-11 by voting online at sa-cool.com. Voters can cast multiple votes for their favorite team by refreshing the page and voting again.

The community is also invited to follow the contest on Facebook and LinkedIn for reminders as the voting period approaches.

The Viewers Choice Vote for the What’s So Cool About Manufacturing® in the Southern Alleghenies video contest opens next week and runs April 9-11 at sa-cool.com.

Schedule an interview with a student, teacher, or manufacturer representative by contacting Lyn Skillington at lynskillington@mac.com, 814-624-4180 or 814-977-0265 (cell).

2024 participating teams are:

Bedford Area Middle School                                             Kennametal, Bedford

Chestnut Ridge High School                                             Creative Composites Group, Alum Bank

Claysburg-Kimmel High School                                      Corle Building Systems, Imler

Everett Area Middle School                                               BC Stone, Everett

Forbes Road High School                                                   JLG Industries, McConnellsburg

Hope for Hyndman Charter School                               Bedford Technical Products, Manns Choice

Northern Bedford County Middle School                   MLD Manufacturing, Bedford

Southern Fulton County Jr./Sr. High School              Mellott Company, Warfordsburg

Tussey Mountain Middle School                                     Mayville Engineering Company, Bedford

Locally, the contest is sponsored by a partnership among Bedford County Development Association, Bedford County Technical Center (BCTC), and the Bedford County 21st Century Community Learning Center Consortium.

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