Western Wayne Participates in “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” Contest Creating sets for MSNBC, making podiums for presidential debates, and producing custom sets for television shows and movies are just some of the high-profile jobs that Boyce Products Ltd., a manufacturing facility located in Damascus, PA, produces.
A group of Western Wayne Middle School students visited this very impressive facility on Tuesday, January 9 to learn more about the plant and its employees as a part of their participation in the Pennsylvania state-wide competition called “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?”
Created by the Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) in Allentown, PA in 2013, the “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” contests draw entries from more than 200 teams across Pennsylvania. The teams of students and teacher coaches receive camera equipment, software, and professional guidance as they learn to script, record, and edit their video stories. The contest’s objective is to change students’ perceptions about manufacturing careers.
The “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” contests are supported regionally by their sponsors and partners. Production support is provided for several of the contests by PBS39 Lehigh Valley in Bethlehem, PA. There are 12 contests held in Pennsylvania during the 2017-2018 school year. These contests involve students from 40 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties – a combined area that represents more than 9 million of the state’s 12.7 million residents. The contest format also has been adopted by groups in 11 additional states.
Mrs. Kristen Donohue, Western Wayne Middle School principal, worked with Mr. Bill Schoen, “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” Northeast, PA contest manager from the Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center (NEPIRC), Hanover Township, PA, to get her students involved in this very educational and fascinating contest. The inaugural “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” contest for Northeast, PA features 13 teams from Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, and Wayne counties.
After discussing the opportunity with Schoen, Donohue worked to form a group of eighth grade students who are academically dedicated and have an interest in manufacturing and technology to participate in the project. She thought those qualities would make for the perfect recipe for success in this endeavor by her students.
“It’s unbelievable to know a company in Wayne County produces such high-end products to use all over the nation,” Donohue explained. “I was so glad to be able to show our Western Wayne students that the possibilities of working in such an industry are so close to home.”
The group of Western Wayne students consisting of Addie Treibley, Ally Bien-Aime, Morgan Coccodrilli, Justin Olson, Ava Compton, Rachel Hoch, Rachel Tuman, and Hudson Malinowski were thrilled to have this experience at Boyce.
The students are currently working to edit their footage to submit for the “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” contest deadline for the Northeast, PA region on March 9.
Both the students and Donohue are very grateful for the unique, educational, and pleasant experience they had at Boyce. They look forward to a reception sometime in the spring for all groups who participated in the contest.
“Every employee of Boyce couldn’t have been nicer or kinder to our students,” Donohue explained. “We thank them so much for this opportunity.”
To learn more about the incredible work done at Boyce visit their website at www.boyceproducts.com
To vote for the Western Wayne Middle School team to win the Viewer’s Choice Award for the “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” contest for the Northeast, PA region visit www.whatssocool.org/ from Monday, March 19, through Wednesday, March 21.
Please take a moment to help our young and talented Western Wayne Wildcats win this honor for their hard work on this very informative project.
The public also can visit www.whatssocool.org/ at any time to find out more information about this contest and the schools, businesses, and other organizations involved in this awesome educational endeavor.
From left, standing: Mrs. Kristen Donohue, Middle School principal; Morgan Coccodrilli, Hudson Malinowski, Rachel Hoch, Ally Bien-Aime, and Rachel Tuman. From left, kneeling: Addie Treibley, Ava Compton, and Justin Olson.
Western Wayne Middle School students Hudson Malinowski and Morgan Coccodrilli learn about a machine used at Boyce Ltd. while on a recent field trip.
Hudson Malinowski takes video footage at Boyce Ltd. for use in Western Wayne Middle’s School submission to the “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” Contest while her fellow Western Wayne teammates look on.
Western Wayne Middle School students Hudson Malinowski, Morgan Coccodrilli, and Justin Olson are seen learning about tasks done at Boyce Ltd. from discussions given by their employees.