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Statewide Tour Student Video Contest

Students are encouraged to create a video that highlights the importance of manufacturing in Minnesota. Three prizes will be awarded to the winning students as determined by the Statewide Tour Video committee. Here is how to get started.

Submission deadline: February 28, 2025

Manufacturing Information & Impact

The annual Minnesota Manufactured™ Statewide Tour is manufacturing’s largest opportunity to inspire the next generation, positively shift perceptions about the industry, and build the foundation for the future manufacturing workforce.

2023 Tour Results

Why Participate?

The Minnesota Manufactured™ Statewide Tour Student Video Contest is an excellent opportunity for students to learn about the exciting careers in the manufacturing industry while sharing their creativity. Students can win prizes and/or awards for themselves or their schools, have their videos shared statewide and be featured at the Minnesota Manufactured Awards Banquet. Participating in the video contest also helps to raise visibility and awareness of all manufacturing careers throughout the state.

Benefits of Participating

• Learn about manufacturing and the many different careers available.
• Develop creative video skills used widely in social media platforms today to influence audiences.
• Win prizes and have your video featured at the Minnesota Manufactured™ Awards Banquet.
• Help to raise visibility and awareness of all manufacturing careers in Minnesota.

Eligibility

  • Eligibility: The contest is open to all middle school and high school students in Minnesota who are interested in learning about manufacturing
  • Appropriateness: The videos must not contain any language, images, or themes that are inappropriate for children.
  • Length: The videos must be no more than 2 minutes in length, including credits.
  • Resolution: The videos must be in 1080p or higher resolution.
  • Originality: The students must have come up with the idea for the video and written the script. The video can be planned, filmed, and edited by school district faculty and staff. Students, and/or young employees must be featured in the video.

Video content must NOT:

  • Break the law, including copyright laws.
  • Promote illegal activities.
  • Be discriminatory or hateful towards others based on their race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation.
  • Share personal information about someone without their permission.
  • Be inappropriate, as determined by the Statewide Tour judging committee.
  • Support or oppose a candidate for elected office or advocate for the passage or defeat of legislation or a ballot measure.

Best Practices

  • Use high-quality video and audio.
  • Keep your videos short and to the point.
  • Use eye-catching visuals.
  • Music or sound effects must be royalty free and attribution given where appropriate.
  • Encourage your friends and family to watch and share your video.
  • Use relevant hashtags as appropriate.

How to Create Your Video

  • Choose a topic related to manufacturing. Here are some ideas:
    • Why should someone consider a career in manufacturing?
    • What positions are available in the industry?
    • How can you make a difference working in manufacturing?
    • Showcase positive work environments and happy employees?
    • What is so cool about working in the manufacturing industry?
    • What exciting technologies are used in today’s manufacturing?
    • What manufacturing careers are you interested in?
    • What does it mean to you to be a Minnesota manufacturer?
    • How can we encourage more students to pursue manufacturing careers?
    • What does a career path look like from high school to a career in manufacturing?
    • How can a career in manufacturing impact the world?
  •  Write a script for your video. This will help you to stay on track and make sure that your video has a clear message.
  • Film your video. You can use a variety of devices to film your video, such as a smartphone, tablet, or camera. Be creative and have fun!
  • Edit your video. Once you have filmed your video, you can use video editing software to edit and publish your creation. This will help your video look and sound the best.
  • Resource Links

Check out these resource links to help make your video look and sound its best:

Instagram Article: https://about.instagram.com/blog/announcements/introducing-instagram-reels-announcement#:~:text=Creating%20Reels,recording%20a%20reel%20with%20it.

Here’s another link with instructions from Sprout Social: https://sproutsocial.com/insights/how-to-make-a-reel-on-instagram/

Examples of last year’s video contest finalists:

Can students get assistance with the filming and editing of the video? The video can be planned, filmed, and edited by school district faculty and staff. Students, and/or young employees must be featured in the video.

Timeline:

  • August 19, 2024 – Contest opens
  • February 28, 2025 – Deadline for video submissions
  • March 2025 – Winners chosen and announced
  • April 2025 – Finalists invited to the Minnesota Manufactured Awards Banquet

How to Submit Your Video

To submit your video, send a YouTube or Vimeo link to our Center’s email address at mnmfg.org@minnstate.edu. Simply upload it, email it to us by the deadline, and post it on your social media using the hashtags #MinnesotaManufactured, #MinnesotaManufacturing, #StatewideTour, and #MNMFGStudentVideoContest. Video files must be in an mp4 file format.

How to Share Your Video on Social Media

  • Upload your video to YouTube and to your social media platform.
  • Use the following hashtags in your post:
    •  #MinnesotaManufacturing
    •  #MinnesotaManufactured
    • #StatewideTour
    •  #MNMFGStudentVideoContest
  • Encourage your friends and family to watch and share your video.

Videos will be judged on the following criteria:

  • Creativity
  • Message
  • Video quality

Scoring Rubric – 100 total points

  • Creativity | 30 |
  • Message | 50 |
  • Video quality | 20 |

Prizes

Three prizes will be awarded and determined by the Statewide Tour Video judging committee.

The following includes the three prizes and values that will be awarded:

 1st place prize – $750 cash prize

2nd place prize – $500 cash prize

3rd place prize – $250 cash prize

* Cash prizes are subject to change, based on video contest funding.

* The Center reserves the right to make any changes to the prizes.

 *By accepting the prize, the winner agrees to hold sponsors and their respective directors, officers, employees and assignees, harmless against any and all claims and liability arising out of use of the prize.

*A winner will be chosen for each prize level. All winners will receive recognition from the Center through social media for their commitment to bringing awareness to the manufacturing industry and the exciting career paths offered in the industry.

*All winners will be contacted prior to the awards banquet, and invited to attend.

Copyright information

No copyrighted material (music, images, etc.) or trademarks (company names, logos, brands, etc.) may be used unless the district owns or has a license /permission to use the material for this contest. Written permission must be obtained and provided upon request for all copyrighted or trademarked materials.

Regardless, students should always ask the song’s author for permission to use the song.

Banquet Details

The Minnesota ManufacturedÔ Awards Banquet will be held in the first quarter of 2025, time and location are TBD. The banquet is a celebration of the manufacturing industry in Minnesota and the students who participate in the video contest.

Release forms details

The district/school must have the required written release/permission form to film anyone featured in the district’s video. This authorization assures that those involved know that the video may be shown publicly, among other uses, without further consent required.

Download the form here: https://www.mnmfg.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Photo-release-from-Statewide-Tour-v3-.pdf

Print it out, sign it, and email the form to: mnmfg.org@minnstate.edu.

*Written parental consent is required for any person under 18 years old.

Authorization

Contest entrants agree that by submitting a video, the Minnesota State Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence, a nonprofit organization, has the right to use, reproduce, reprint, distribute, and display the video for any organizational purpose, without notification, consent, or compensation to the entrant(s). The Minnesota State Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence organizational purpose includes, but is not limited to, displaying the video on our Center’s website, at conferences, or at other venues, regardless of whether fees are charged.

Contact

If you have questions, or for more information, please contact Jaimee Meyer, director of marketing and outreach, at jaimee.meyer@minnstate.edu.

We hope to see your video in the Minnesota ManufacturedÔ Student Video Contest! Good luck!

© Minnesota State Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence 2023. All Rights Reserved