What’s So Cool About Manufacturing®

Middle schoolers + video cameras + real-life factories = one awesome experience.

Middle school is a key moment to introduce students to future career paths. WSCM opens the door to modern manufacturing, helping kids understand the skills, creativity, and opportunity behind the products they use every day.

This isn’t your average classroom project. It’s a hands-on, high-energy adventure where 7th and 8th graders team up to explore a local manufacturing company, shoot video footage of their visit, and create a short video that tells the world: this is what’s so cool about manufacturing!

FOR MANUFACTURERS

How do you grow your future workforce?

By showing students what’s possible. There’s a skilled worker shortage for sure, but there’s also a huge opportunity to inspire the next generation. Students don’t know what they haven’t seen, and this is your chance to open their eyes to the technology, people, and purpose behind what you do every day.

FOR SCHOOLS

Looking for fun, project-based career exploration?

This is it. WSCM is aligned with PA State Standards and offers an unforgettable way to connect classroom learning to real-world careers. Your students will gain valuable experience, spark new interests, and walk away with a project they can be proud of. MANTEC covers Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York county schools.

Here’s how it works:

  • We provide the curriculum, training, and (for first-time schools) all the equipment.
  • We connect schools to local manufacturers so students can visit and film their experience.
  • Teams edit their video to highlight cool tech, career paths, and products.
  • Videos compete in a regional contest for categories like Most Creative, Best Editing, and the fan-favorite Viewer’s Choice Award.
  • Regional winners move on to the statewide competition.

Congratulations to the 2025 winners:

– Outstanding Outreach Plan/Viewer’s Choice Award – ELCO Middle School
– Outstanding Creativity/ 2nd Place Winner at the state competition- Ephrata Area Middle School
– Outstanding Educational Value – Lower Dauphin Middle School
– Outstanding Cool – Manheim Township Middle School
– Outstanding Overall – Pequea Valley Intermediate
– Outstanding Career Pathway – West York Area Middle School

Check out all the videos from the 2025 contest here.

Questions? 

Ready to Join the 25-26 Competition?

Sponsor a Team, an Award, or the Event! 


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