Lehighton Middle School students got a chance to tour Kovatch Mobile Equipment in order to find out "What's So Cool About Manufacturing," and now you can check it out, too.

Starting in November, the Manufacturers Resource Center's "What's So Cool About Manufacturing" video contest connected middle schools in Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon, Monroe and Schuylkill counties with local businesses. Students were tasked with creating a short video profiling the manufacturers, aiming to stir up some excitement for a frequently neglected career path."It's peer-to-peer marketing," Karen Buck, manager of Workforce Initiatives at Manufacturers Resource Center, said. "They're making a video showing their friends how cool manufacturing is, in an eighth grade language."Lehighton Middle School computer teachers Amanda Rex and Angela Tobash, who helped with the video contest, agreed."I think it really opened their eyes to local manufacturing jobs, like how they built these trucks from the ground up. I think they really enjoyed seeing how much these local companies do," Rex said.While the videos do a great job of stirring up interest in the manufacturing world at large, even more importantly, they connect students with the local community and the many available career opportunities at these companies."People born and raised here don't realize what we do," KME's Tim Duncan said. "They don't know about the engineers, production staff, welders, painters, and other skilled jobs we have here. We are working closely with the local vo-tech schools so we can groom students in the welding and automotive fields for training, and then they could come here for employment."Students spent half a day with a local manufacturing business like KME, conducting interviews, filming production lines and highlighting opportunities with a GoPro camera, provided by the MRC.As the Lehighton middle schoolers toured the KME compound, they got the chance to see the construction of firetrucks from start to finish, along with the numerous skilled positions that are necessary for such a task.Students were surprised to learn that local manufacturers like KME actually do business worldwide. Duncan mentioned that KME was working on a truck that was destined for Saudi Arabia during the visit."Through working on this project, I have learned that manufacturing in this area affects both local families and consumers worldwide," eighth-grader Lyle Cordes said.The end result, of course, seemed to have the most appeal."We had a finished truck, and we were able to turn on all the lights," Duncan said. "They were really excited about that."PBS 39 worked with the students on editing, providing suggestions and strategies for their videos. Rex said that PBS staff was incredibly helpful not just with troubleshooting, but promoting creativity with the kids."From this experience, I learned how to shoot and edit a video that will entertain and educate people. I also learned about the manufacturing process," seventh-grader Holly Fasching said.You can vote for the Lehigh Valley section's "People's Choice Award" video from Wednesday to Friday at

www.dreamitdoitpa.com. A panel of judges will also review the videos for awards in 10 categories, such as "Outstanding Educational Value" and "Outstanding Creativity.""We were very pleased with the visit, and with planting the seed that there are good manufacturing jobs in Carbon County," Duncan said. "I think they got some great video, and I'm looking forward to seeing the final product."Participating schools:Lehighton, partnered with KME KovatchNorthwestern Lehigh, Biomed ServicesPleasant Valley, United EnvelopePalmerton, AmetekJim Thorpe, Blue Ridge Pressure CastingsPanther Valley, Technical Process & EngineeringTamaqua, Highwood USA