VIDEO: Rolling Out the Red Carpet for Manufacturing

Gardner Business Media's new summer intern, Hannah Coombs--who is no stranger to the world of manufacturing, being the daughter of Ray Coombs, president of  MMT's 2014 Leadtime Leader Award Winner Westminster Tool of Plainfield, Connecticut--covered the film festival gala for the second annual video competition hosted by the Eastern Advanced Manufacturing Alliance (EAMA) when she hit the red carpet.

The competition, which MMT helped promote during the past few weeks, is a unique way to highlight manufacturing careers and pathways to better educate students, teachers and families about the industry. In this year’s theme, “Manufacturing a Path to Success,” each of the 13 high school teams were paired with local manufacturers to create videos illustrating skills and opportunity in the industry.

Here is a video snapshot of the event. 

Ms. Coombs reports: 

Kicking off last fall, EAMA began work to recruit and team up member companies with the participating schools in their area. Students spent several months working with partner companies ranging from small start-ups to multi-facility corporations such as Electric Boat and Web Industries. After the students’ videos are completed, online voting is opened to the public to determine the winners for the “Viewer’s Choice” award at the final ceremony.

"The competition was celebrated in a film festival ceremony held on April 14^th at the Quinebaug Valley Community College where the students and their families joined teachers and the partner companies for the video screenings. Prizes were awarded in videography, narration, creativity and educational value with one team taking the prize for Best Overall, judged by a dynamic panel of manufacturing, education and videography professionals.  

"EAMA is a collaborative organization of more than 40 manufacturers across Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island that work to promote manufacturing careers and workforce development. For almost 20 years, EAMA has worked with local colleges and high schools with educational events such as the video competition to increase awareness and advocate for the manufacturing industry.

Working with educational promotion, training and workforce development, EAMA promotes the industry with young students hoping to expose the valuable career pathways it has to offer. In their videos, students were able to witness first-hand the innovation and quality of skilled employees at their partner companies. One student, Raquelle from Three Rivers Magnet High School was amazed by the efficiency and complexity of the company she worked with, MPS Plastics. Her experience changed how she looked at manufacturing. “It’s not as old fashioned as it used to be,” she said. “There’s a lot of high [technology] that goes into it.”

Mary Fitzgerald, President of Acme Wire Co. and the Event Coordinator, was surprised to see the impact not only on the students, but the companies as well. “The companies get a chance to see things through the students’ perspective and see how they put a spin on your story,” she said. “It’s marketing your message and why it’s important to consider manufacturing careers.” The video aspect of the competition allows students to deliver that message in a unique and creative way. “To see the automation visually…they get a better grasp of what goes into manufacturing.”

And the winners are ... 

Best Overall Video: Killingly High School & Web Industries
Outstanding Videography: Putnam High School & Ensinger Precision Components
Best Narration: Killingly High School & Web Industries
Outstanding Educational Value: Plainfield High School & Westminster Tool
Most Creative: Plainfield High School & Westminster Tool

Viewer’s Choice Awards:                              

1st Place: Three Rivers Middle College & MPS Plastics
2nd Place: Woodstock Academy & Whitcraft
3rd Place: New London Science & Technology Magnet High School & Sound Manufacturing

You can view all videos here.

Quinebaug Valley Community College hosted the event this year and last year’s film festival “gala” was hosted by Three Rivers Community College. EAMA plans to alternate between the colleges to host the film festival.