Share this article:
March 17-21, 2025 –
Castle Hayne, North Carolina – The momentum is building in the 2025 Advanced Manufacturing competition series as we wrap up the Eastern Regional round, which took place last week at Cape Fear Community College. This exciting regional competition featured seven talented teams from across the country, including Suncoast Technical College from Sarasota, Florida; Bucks County Technical High School from Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania; Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology from Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Kevin Dukes Career & Innovation Academy from Hollywood, Alabama; Tennessee College of Applied Technology Clarksville-Dickson Campus from Dickson, Tennessee; Central Alabama Community College from Childersburg, Alabama; and Wallace State Community College from Hanceville, Alabama.
Over the course of the week, each team had two full days to compete. The first day was dedicated to preparation, which included programming and 3D printing, while the second day was focused on hands-on work, creating tangible projects and “making chips.” Wyatt Cook, a competitor from the Kevin Dukes Career & Innovation Academy team, shared his excitement about making it to the regional round, saying, “It feels good to be part of the best of the best! I’m a junior in high school, so you might not think we have as much experience, but I think we have the skills to compete.”
At Project MFG, our mission is to inspire and elevate the next generation of skilled trade professionals. Through these competitions, we provide participants with hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology and expert guidance. And what better way to raise the stakes than by featuring these talented students in a reality show competition? That’s right – we’re gearing up for Season 5 of our Clash of Trades YouTube reality series. During the Clash of Trades Advanced Manufacturing Series, 16 teams from around the country battle it out at regional competitions for a chance to compete in the grand finale. Last year, the spotlight was on race cars, and the top four teams faced off at the Stewart-Haas Racing facility in Kannapolis, North Carolina, where they created a fuel intake manifold for a real race car engine. If you haven’t checked out Season 4 yet, be sure to head over to our YouTube page and catch up before Season 5 drops!
This year’s Clash of Trades series has an out-of-this-world theme: Space. The challenge? To create components for a CubeSat that could be launched into orbit. For those unfamiliar, a CubeSat is a compact satellite typically used for research and educational purposes. Its standard dimensions are 10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm (referred to as “1U”), and multiple units can be combined to form larger CubeSats. These versatile satellites are used for various functions, including scientific research, technology demonstrations, and Earth observation.
Throughout this season, viewers will get to know competitors like Alexis Squires from Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology. Alexis shared her thoughts on the competition, saying, “I think Project MFG competitions are indicative of real-world applications.” She also shared her personal background in manufacturing, stating, “My dad has a shop, and I help him out there. I started welding and later switched to machining. After graduation, I want to continue in machining.” It’s stories like Alexis’ that make our Clash of Trades series so special.
But the excitement doesn’t stop here. In just a few weeks, we’ll be heading to Logan, Utah, to host the final regional round at Bridgerland Technical College, where the remaining six teams will face off for their chance to secure a spot in this year’s National Championship.
Stay tuned as the competition intensifies and these skilled students continue to impress us all!
Meet the teams:
Bucks County Technical High School
Central Alabama Community College
Kevin Dukes Career & Innovation Academy
Suncoast Technical College
Tennessee College of Applied Technology Clarksville-Dickson
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology
Wallace State Community College
Event Photos
More about our Advanced Manufacturing Competition Series
The Advanced Manufacturing Competition series is a team competition testing a combination of integrated manufacturing processes that may include 5-axis CNC/Machining, Additive, and Metrology. Competitors should expect to experience and manage real world situations such as change orders, project delays, & time management challenges.
Interdisciplinary teams compete in a two-day challenge to create a product to required specifications. For the National Championship, four of the most skilled student teams in the trades come together for the advanced manufacturing competition for the title of Project MFG National Champion and the $100,000 prize. The competition is designed to reflect the advanced manufacturing workplace and requires the production of a final product.
About Cape Fear Community College
At Cape Fear Community College, their mission is to provide dynamic and supportive learning opportunities, environments, and services fostering academic achievement, career-focused training, and professional and personal success.
They are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates!
about project mfg
Project MFG shines a light on the need and opportunities for skilled trades by focusing on the development of new talent to provide a path forward for individuals and our country. As an integrated workforce development and recruitment effort, Project MFG collaborates across communities, the private sector, and government to expand the U.S. industrial base workforce.
For more information about Project MFG competitions and future events, please visit projectmfg.com or contact marketing@projectmfg.com.
