Earlier in the 2021-2022 school year, Calhoun Middle School student Isabella Cronin wrote a guest blog about Calhoun Middle School’s research, analysis, and production pathway’s deep dive into manufacturing through a visit to Clearon bleach factory in South Charleston.
That exploration into manufacturing sparked an interest for some of Mr. Cosgrove’s 
students, and ten members of the pathway decided to partner with Belle Chemical Company to participate in Explore: The New Manufacturing’s “What’s so cool about manufacturing?” video contest. Students received video equipment from the program and used this contest opportunity to learn new interview and video skills. They collected clips from the state capital building, Belle Chemical Company interviews, and other “b-roll”. They storyboarded that information into a message they wanted to communicate about manufacturing in West Virginia. Students took on roles related to company structures, such as CEO and COO, as well as project managers and videographers. They created a three-minute video to compete with other schools.
Through the process of this video contest and the pathway’s exploration, CEO and group leader Kendall Snodgrass planned a field trip for the pathway to visit Belle Chemical Company in Charleston in addition to the field trip to Clearon. Because of the outstanding work Kendall did in establishing professional relationships with leaders in this industry, she was nominated by a representative of Belle Chemical Company for an award for leadership and knowledge. In addition to organizing multiple trips to various companies, she also had a one-on-one meeting with the CEO of Clearon and impressed the leadership there. Kendall was presented with the 2022 Explore Emerging Elite in Manufacturing award, a designation typically reserved for outstanding high school students in technical programs. Mr. Dan Cosgrove was also recognized with an Outstanding Industry Educator award. Mr. Cosgrove and Ms. Snodgrass were both the only recipients from middle school in each of those categories.
Talk to any student in Mr. Cosgrove’s pathway about their experiences this year exploring manufacturing, research, technology, and the variety of other careers they have managed to explore this year, and you’ll discover that this experience was about much more than a video competition. These students took pride in gaining new understanding, learning to ask questions and talk to people in powerful roles, and taking ownership over their exploration and understanding of potential careers.
Calhoun Middle School’s “What’s so cool about manufacturing?” video ultimately won the
Kanawha Valley Regional Viewer’s Choice award with over 7,000 votes. In the state competition, they were recognized for Best Marketing Plan, receiving the highest number of votes from the 19 schools competing across the state.
The members of the video team include: Addison Collins (COO), Kayleigh Cunningham, Aniah Davis, Hoyt Helmick, Anessia Kerby, Aubrey Laughlin, Laura Reeves, Tucker Sampson, Kendall Snodgrass (CEO), and Coby Staples.
Kendall Snodgrass and Jason Lloyd, representative and interviewee for Belle Chemical Company