Explore the New Manufacturing is gearing up for another fantastic year, thanks to our amazing volunteers!

Last year, Explore partnered with 98 manufacturers and 80 schools to deliver action-packed educational activities to improve communication, team building, problem-solving, and STEM skills for middle and high school students. Student and teacher surveys illustrate the critical role Explore’s manufacturing partners play in providing engaging and insightful experiences that energize children while broadening their understanding of career diversity within their local communities. Explore’s unique learning model is strong thanks to our partners, who keep asking what more they can do to help. With a 93.9% retention rate, our manufacturing partners are an important reason why 2024-2025 will be our best year ever!

Opportunities to participate in our 2024-2025 are filling up fast. Contact us today to learn how your organization can participate.

Explore the New Manufacturing announced today the receipt of a $10,000 grant from Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia to support programming initiatives that will directly benefit students in the Kanawha and Mid-Ohio Regions, with a primary focus on Cabell, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Mason, and Putnam counties. The funding will support interactive educational activities designed to generate student awareness and enthusiasm for careers in manufacturing, as well as the educational pathways leading to those opportunities.

Buckhannon, WV, September 25, 2024 – Explore the New Manufacturing announced today that it had received an $11,000 grant from TC Energy to help outfit toolboxes for events and activities for the 2024-2025 program year. The grant will directly benefit middle and high school students from the North Central Region by supporting interactive educational activities that create student awareness and excitement about manufacturing careers and the subsequent educational pathways toward those opportunities.

Build Strong, TC Energy’s social impact program, invests in organizations that encourage the next generation of energy problem solvers by investing in education and training programs that are building a strong and skilled energy workforce for the future. 

Explore the New Manufacturing is pleased to announce the 2024 State Manufacturing Innovation Challenge Champion is Putnam Career & Technical Center for their project with Toyota West Virginia. 

Representing the Kanawha Valley Region, Putnam Career & Technical Center’s Project Lead the Way Engineering Class developed a method for preventing a potential ergonomic issue in the Positive Crankcase Ventilation installment process of the Short-Block Sub-Assembly for Toyota West Virginia.

The FIRST PLACE recipient of the 2024 West Virginia Best Manufacturing Message Award is Blennerhassett Middle School for their video about Mister Bee Potato Chips Company.  Blennerhassett's winning video showcases what’s cool about Mister Bee’s and their famous potato chips.

Blennerhassett Middle School Team: Karissa Epperly, Ihla Freshour, Evan Mace, Alice Abbott, Hayla Delancey, Payton Sellers, Madison May, Lillian Bryant, Caysen Litton, Raylen Reeder, Alexandra Smith, Julia Sharpe, Easton Wolfe, Jalyn Eddy, Paisley Maone, Sophia Williams, Jayden Kelley, Izabella Robinson, Jude Barre, and Alexis Seiders.