Eleven schools and 12 manufacturing companies from throughout Cameron, Elk, McKean, Potter Clearfield and Jefferson counties participated in the second annual “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” video contest.
Team of sixth through eighth grade students along with a teacher/coach were provided video equipment and training and were matched with manufacturing companies. The teams created short video profiles of companies and the career opportunities.
Winners included Oswayo Valley/Cutco Corp. taking first place for the viewer’s choice award; Kane/Dangelo’s Custom Built, second place, viewer’s choice award; Bradford/Graham Packaging, outstanding creativity award; Oswayo Valley/Cutco Corp., outstanding cool award; Clearfield/Pennsylvania Grain Processing, outstanding educational value award; Brookville/Miller Welding and Machine Co., outstanding videography award; and Northern Potter/Electri-Cord Manufacturing Co., outstanding marketing plan award.
An award celebration took place March 13 at the Ridgway Area High School to recognize the students, teachers/coaches and employers.
Eileen Cipriani, deputy secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry for Workforce Development, Deborah Pontzer of Congressman Glenn Thompson’s office and Carol Kilko of Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development spoke to a crowd of about 250 people.
The event is led by a collaboration of community partners and Workforce Solutions (Workforce Development Board serving the North Central PA region) along with Keystone Automatic Technologies Inc.; Bradford Area School District and Graham Packaging led by teacher Katie Greene; Elk County Catholic Middle School and Abbott Furnace led by teacher Mary Steele; Johnsonburg Area School District and Domtar—Johnsonburg Mill led by teacher Matt Myers; Kane Area School District and Dangelo’s Custom Built led by teacher Jeannine Kloss; Northern Potter School District and Electri-Cord Mfg. Co. led by teacher Lori Szymanik; Oswayo Valley School District and Cutco Corp. led by teacher Kathy Cook; Port Alleghany School District and Allegheny Bradford Corp. led by teacher Christian Sevinsky; Ridgway Area School District and St Marys Pressed Metals led by teacher Mike Ames; St. Leo’s Catholic School and SGL Carbon led by teacher Patricia Macer; Brookville Area School District and Miller Welding and Machine Co. led by teacher Ron Ramolt; and Clearfield Area School District and Pennsylvania Grain Processing led by teacher Leslie Grice.
The videos can be viewed at whatsosool.org.
