Middle school students across the Pittsburgh Central Region proved once again that manufacturing is cool! On March 25th, 2026, 19 student teams gathered at Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) – Allegheny Campus to celebrate their hard work and creativity at the What’s So Cool About Manufacturing® Middle School Student Video Contest Awards Ceremony. The event brought together students, educators, and manufacturing partners for a day of celebration, exploration, and hands-on learning.
The event kicked off with students networking with representatives from local manufacturing companies. These conversations gave students the opportunity to learn directly from industry professionals about real-world careers and the companies featured in their videos. Following the networking session, students headed into the auditorium for the awards ceremony which was an exciting moment to recognize the creativity, teamwork, and storytelling that went into each student-produced video. After the awards, the students rotated through tours of CCAC’s CEIT Building, exploring manufacturing and culinary training spaces. Students also participated in hands-on activities led by United Steelworkers and the Moonshot Museum, allowing them to experience innovation, problem-solving, and advanced manufacturing concepts firsthand.
Pittsburgh Central Region Contest Winners
We are proud to recognize the outstanding work of all participating teams. Congratulations to the following Pittsburgh Central Region winners:
Best Overall
🥇 1st Place: Chartiers Houston with Giffin Interiors (headed to states!!!)
🥈 2nd Place: Butler Area with Butler Technologies
Best Manufacturing Message
🥇 1st Place: Butler Area with Butler Technologies
🥈 2nd Place: Moon Area with KOBOLD
🥉 3rd Place: Deer Lakes with Hellbender Inc
Outstanding Creativity
🥇 1st Place: Blackhawk with Adams Manufacturing
🥈 2nd Place: Chartiers Houston with Giffin Interiors
🥉 3rd Place: New Brighton with Kenson Plastics
Best Career Story
🥇 1st Place: Shaler Area with MEPPI
🥈 2nd Place: Highlands with Oberg
Most Effective Editing
🥇 1st Place: Butler Area with Butler Technologies
🥈 2nd Place: Chartiers Houston with Giffin Interiors
Best Promotion
🥇 1st Place: Shaler Area with Ace Wire Spring and MEPPI
Rookie School
🥇 1st Place: Keystone Oaks with Mancini’s Bakery
🥈 2nd Place: Shaler Area with Ace Wire Spring
Viewer’s Choice
🥇 1st Place: Butler Area with JV Manufacturing
🥈 2nd Place: Deer Lakes with Hellbender
Student Choice
🥇 1st Place: Chartiers Houston with Giffin Interiors
🥈 2nd Place: Keystone Oaks with Mancini’s Bakery
Inspiring the Future of Manufacturing
The What’s So Cool About Manufacturing® program introduces students to modern manufacturing careers through hands-on learning and real-world company partnerships. By creating their own videos, students gain experience in teamwork, communication, and creative problem-solving—skills that translate across industries. Events like the Pittsburgh Central Awards Ceremony showcase not only student talent, but also the strength of collaboration between schools, manufacturers, and community partners working together to grow the future workforce.
Check out their videos here: Pittsburgh Central (PA) – What’s So Cool About Manufacturing®
Below are some photos from the event!
