Manufacturing Information & Impact
Students are encouraged to create a video that highlights the importance of manufacturing in Minnesota. Three cash prizes will be awarded to the winning students! Here is how to get started. Download the flyer here: https://www.mnmfg.org/wp-content/uploads/mnmanufactured_videocontest-flyer-2026_large.pdf . Submission deadline: January 31, 2026. 
Why Participate?
The Minnesota Manufactured™ Student Video Contest is an excellent opportunity for students to learn about the exciting careers in the manufacturing industry, share their creativity, and win big with cash prizes! Students can win up to $750 in cash prizes 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.
Prizes
- 1st place = $750
- 2nd place = $500
- 3rd place = $250
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
Examples of last year's video contest finalists:
- North East Range Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxzOb2_YmkU
- Rocori VEX Robotics Video - Rocori Middle School: https://vimeo.com/921648591
- Mason Goebel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEMPoi5cA2Y
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.
Check out these resource links to help make your video look and sound its best
Instagram Article Sprout Social
How to Submit Your Video
To submit your video, send a YouTube or Vimeo link to our Center's email address at mnmfg@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 |
Additional Information
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 Manufactured Awards Banquet will be held on April 8, 2026, at Riverland Community College, Albert Lea, MN. 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-v2-.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.duffy@minnstate.edu. We hope to see your video in the Minnesota Manufactured Student Video Contest! Good luck!
