Explore the New Manufacturing is pleased to announce the winners of the North Central region completion of the What’s So Cool About Manufacturing? Student Video Contest.  Middle school teams were judged on the creation of a 3-minute video about their manufacturing partner, the employees, and what is cool about the company. The awards were announced at the North Central Award Ceremony sponsored by the EQT Foundation and STOCKMEIER Urethanes USA, Inc.

Parkersburg, WV, June 6, 2022 - Explore the New Manufacturing is pleased to announce the completion of a Manufacturing Innovation Challenge involving Integrated Production Technology students from the Wood County Technical Center and Micro Machine Works, Inc. The students' project was to automate and update a pill dye cleaner to be pharmaceutical grade and user friendly.  The challenge is hosted by Explore the New Manufacturing, an educational outreach program designed to provide West Virginia middle and high school students with topics focusing on manufacturing career pathways.

“With pharmaceutic research and development testing, research scientists must sit down and clean pill dyes manually by hand. This is very inefficient. The repetitive nature of this task leads to carpal tunnel syndrome and also wastes time, and money.” Jared Voldness, Wood County Technical Center, pre-engineering and computer science teacher.

Participating Wood County Technical Center students: Lucian Baumgartner, Wyatt McCormick, Philip Richmond, Kyle Koch, Braxton Leisure, Michael Meyer, William Morrison, Riley Street, and Mason Westfall.

“We mistakenly think that young people are totally engulfed and lost in their cell phones and social media.  NOT TRUE!  Given the exposure and opportunity to participate in real world problem solving, they rise to the occasion and perform very well.  Do not underestimate today's young people.  Give them the tools and opportunities to excel and they will exceed your expectations.  We are very impressed with the leadership, team work, and skill sets of the Wood County Tech Center Students involved on this project.”  Linn Yost, owner, Micro Machine Works, Inc.

Participating Micro Machine Works employees:  Russ Kern and Linn Yost. 

“Today’s high school students will be tomorrow’s manufacturing workforce in West Virginia,” said Program Director Monica Cross, who oversees the Explore the New Manufacturing Program on behalf of the West Virginia Manufacturing Association Educational Fund’s efforts to create student awareness and excitement about careers in manufacturing and the training opportunities for these positions in their local areas. “We are excited to have Carver Career & Technical Education Center and NGK Spark Plugs USA, Inc. to team up for this year’s challenge. The real-world experience provides insight into a modern manufacturing environment that uses skills in technology, problem-solving, creativity, and communication that they have been developing in school.”

Explore's Manufacturing Innovation Challenge is designed to allow high school student teams to solve actual manufacturing problems faced by West Virginia manufacturers. Each challenge is unique and can come from a variety of aspects of the company's operations.  Students learn how problem-solving skills are a critical element to job performance.  The challenge concludes with a formal team presentation, after which students and manufacturers discuss the feasibility of implementing the solution. The experience illustrates how teamwork, adaptability, and communication skills are used to implement the industry's solutions.

MARTINSBURG, April 11, 2022 – Explore the New Manufacturing is pleased to announce the winners of the eastern region completion of the What’s So Cool About Manufacturing? Student Video Contest.  Middle school teams were judged on the creation of a 3-minute video about their manufacturing partner, the employees, and what was cool about the company. The awards were announced at the Eastern Award Ceremony sponsored by Procter & Gamble.

GRAFTON, W.Va. – Taylor County Middle School students are competing in a regional video contest.

A group of about 20 middle schoolers called the West Virginia Manufacturers Association “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” Submitted a video in his contest called. The students were paired with the Appalachian Wood Pellet Company to learn what they do on a daily basis and summarized it in their videos.

The Explore the New Manufacturing Program announced today that Kendall Snodgress has received special recognition with the awarding of the Emerging Elite in Manufacturing award for her work in the classroom. A Calhoun County Middle High School student, Snodgress has excelled as a leader in her Calhoun Empowerment courses. Snodgress will receive a $500 award designated for future educational advancement and endeavors. She will also be presented with a commemorative wooden plaque and gift basket featuring products made in West Virginia. Procter & Gamble Company, a Gold Patron, along with Technimark, a Bronze Patron, are sponsors of the 2022 awards.

 The Explore the New Manufacturing Program announced today that Kevin “Doug” Sands has been recognized with an Outstanding Industry Educator award for his dedication in the classroom.  Sands is a teacher at United Technical Center, where he teaches machine tool technology and industrial robotics.  Sands will receive a $500 award designated for classroom enhancement.  He will also be presented with a commemorative wooden plaque and gift basket featuring products made in West Virginia. Procter & Gamble Company, a Gold Patron, along with Technimark, a Bronze Patron, are sponsors of the 2022 awards.

The Explore the New Manufacturing Program announced today that Jessie Butcher has been recognized with an Outstanding Industry Educator award for her dedication in the classroom. Butcher is a teacher at James Rumsey Technical Institute, where she teaches applied engineering and robotics classes.  Butcher will receive a $500 award designated for classroom enhancement. She will also be presented with a commemorative wooden plaque and gift basket featuring products made in West Virginia. Procter & Gamble Company, a Gold Patron, along with Technimark, a Bronze Patron, are sponsors of the 2022 awards.

The Explore the New Manufacturing Program announced today that Daniel Cosgrove has been recognized with an Outstanding Industry Educator award for his dedication in the classroom.  Cosgrove is a teacher at Calhoun Middle High School, where he teaches social studies. Cosgrove will receive a $500 award designated for classroom enhancement.  He will also be presented with a commemorative wooden plaque and gift basket featuring products made in West Virginia. Procter & Gamble Company, a Gold Patron, along with Technimark, a Bronze Patron, are sponsors of the 2022 awards.

he Explore the New Manufacturing Program announced today that Chaz Bentley has been recognized with an Emerging Elite in Manufacturing award for his work in the classroom. A Herbert Hoover High School student, Bentley has excelled as a leader in his Carver Career and Technical Education Center courses.   Bentley will receive a $500 award designated for scholarships, certification fees, or specialty equipment. He will also be presented with a commemorative wooden plaque and gift basket featuring products made in West Virginia. Procter & Gamble Company, a Gold Patron, along with Technimark, a Bronze Patron, are sponsors of the 2022 awards. 

The Explore the New Manufacturing Program announced today that Samuel Wilson has been recognized with an Outstanding Industry Educator award for his dedication in the classroom.  Wilson is a teacher at Grafton High School, where he teaches welding and metal technology classes.  Wilson will receive a $500 award designated for classroom enhancement.  He will also be presented with a commemorative wooden plaque and gift basket featuring products made in West Virginia.  Procter & Gamble Company, a Gold Patron, along with Technimark, a Bronze Patron, are sponsors of the 2022 awards.