SCHOTT Inspires Next Generation During Manufacturing Day 2025

SCHOTT will celebrate Manufacturing Day 2025 on Oct. 3 by visiting local high schools and vocational schools to connect with students in the Duryea and Lebanon, Pennsylvania; Southbridge, Massachusetts; and Vincennes, Indiana, areas. The company aims to spark curiosity, break stereotypes, and showcase career opportunities in modern manufacturing. In tandem with these school visits, SCHOTT has launched its third annual SCHOTT Innovation Challenge, inviting students ages 13-18 across the US to pitch creative solutions to real-world problems. The initiative comes as US manufacturing experiences renewed growth, with the sector adding 65,000 new locations between 2014 and 2024, according to Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis data.

During Manufacturing Day events, students will experience dynamic presentations, learn about a wide range of job roles, and take part in an interactive, real-world simulation game designed to bring manufacturing to life through everyday scenarios. They’ll also get a closer look at how SCHOTT’s specialty glass and materials power today’s most advanced technologies, from artificial intelligence to geometric reflective waveguides for augmented reality, while gaining perspective on the company’s global reach and local community impact.

“SCHOTT has been manufacturing innovative glass products for more than 100 years, and programs like Manufacturing Day and the Innovation Challenge help us connect with the next generation of talent who will drive our industry forward,” said Christopher Cassidy, President at SCHOTT North America. “Hands-on learning experiences give students a real understanding of what modern manufacturing careers look like and the impact they can have.”

Manufacturing Day is organized nationally by The Manufacturing Institute, the 501(c)3 nonprofit workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). SCHOTT has been a long standing member of the NAM and continues to develop new talent in this critical sector.

The St. Louis Fed reports U.S. manufacturing added 65,000 new establishments between 2014 and 2024, creating demand for the next generation of problem-solvers and inventors. The SCHOTT Innovation Challenge invites students in the United States to design and prototype a device, tool, or system that solves real-world problems people face in daily life. New this year, participants will submit short video presentations detailing the problem they're tackling, their innovative solution, and why it matters. Videos must highlight at least two science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) elements and include a prototype, which can be physical, drawn, or digital.

The $1,000 prize winner of the SCHOTT Innovation Challenge will be selected based on creativity, feasibility, and impact. The submission deadline is Dec. 15, 2025, with winners announced in February 2026. Learn more about the SCHOTT Innovation Challenge.