Florence Students Partner with Glacial Lakes Rubber & Plastics for “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” Relaunch

Northeast Radio SD News – Florence, SD - South Dakota Manufacturing & Technology Solutions (SDMTS) has completed a successful pilot relaunch of its What’s So Cool About Manufacturing? program, partnering with eighth‑grade students from Florence School and Watertown‑based Glacial Lakes Rubber & Plastics (GLRP).

The program pairs middle school students with local manufacturers to create short videos showcasing real‑world production processes and career opportunities. Students began work this spring, filming inside GLRP’s facility and interviewing employees using a full camera kit supplied by SDMTS. Teacher‑coach training was provided by Lake Area Technical College instructor Mark Iverson.

After gathering more than an hour of footage, the student team edited their project into a two‑and‑a‑half‑minute video highlighting GLRP’s operations and manufacturing careers. A watch party celebrating the finished project was held May 11 at LATC, attended by students, their teacher, SDMTS staff, and a GLRP representative.

Program Manager Angela Allen said the relaunch reinforces the program’s hands‑on learning mission. “Students strengthen skills like teamwork, communication, planning, and problem solving while gaining exposure to real‑world careers in manufacturing,” Allen said.

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Florence teacher Britney Russell praised the experience, noting that students were able to explore manufacturing, marketing, and video editing through real‑world application. Eighth‑grader Wyatt Dahl added that the project helped him learn video editing skills and better understand how the local industry contributes to the broader world.

Recruitment is now underway for the Fall 2026 cohort, open to middle school educators across South Dakota, including public, private, and homeschool programs.

Interested teachers can contact Angela Allen at Angela.Allen@SDManufacturing.com or visit sdmanufacturing.com/solutions/wscm/ for details.