FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
Kate Brock
Executive Director, Community Education Center
Phone: 814-781-3437
Email: kate@communityedcenter.com

St. Marys Area High School’s Dutch Manufacturing Students,
the Community Education Center of Elk & Cameron Counties, and
Artist John Schlimm Collaborate to Create 4,000 SMILE COINS

(St. Marys, PA) – St. Marys Area High School’s Dutch Manufacturing students, the Community
Education Center of Elk and Cameron Counties (CEC), and international award-winning author, artist,
advocate, and educator John Schlimm have collaborated to design and produce THE SMILE COIN.
Inspired by the students’ design, drafting, and tooling work and Schlimm’s Participatory Art project
“THE SMILE THAT CHANGED THE WORLD (is yours)” that has been installed across the country,
THE SMILE COIN has been manufactured in an edition of 4,000 powdered metal coins by Metco
Industries.
Released on the eve of the 10th Anniversary of “THE SMILE THAT CHANGED THE WORLD (is
yours),” THE SMILE COIN embodies the essence of STEAM (science/technology/engineering/arts/math)
while emphasizing the importance of community service, mental health awareness, and the impact of even
our simplest gestures of compassion, such as a smile. Each student in the St. Marys Area School District
will receive two SMILE COINS: a SMILE to keep and a SMILE to give away.
“From the moment I was introduced to Dutch Manufacturing, I became a huge cheerleader for the
program and its extraordinary students, and I wanted to create something special with them,” said
Schlimm. “THE SMILE COIN represents so much of what my work as an artist, educator, and advocate
for young people and mental health is about, while serving as a powerful symbol of skills-based education
that opens up worlds of possibilities for each student’s unique skills and talents to shine.”
Schlimm and the CEC have been working with the Dutch Manufacturing students since January,
collaboratively discussing, conceptualizing, and finalizing the design, materials, and roll-out for THE
SMILE COIN.
“The collaboration between the three of us has really become something special and meaningful,” said
SMAHS senior Mayson Annis, who serves as President and PR Director for Dutch Manufacturing. “It’s
been a great experience and opportunity for multiple generations to come together creatively and
showcase everyone’s individuality and the skills they possess. I’m excited to see what the future holds for
not only the SMILE idea, but all those involved and affected by it.”
Skills-based and student-led, Dutch Manufacturing is a high school program that is focused on developing
students for the ever-growing world of Advanced Manufacturing. The skills that are developed throughout
this program translate into qualified individuals who will be successful in the manufacturing sector, postsecondary
education, and/or an apprenticeship/internship type of program.
While the students have already designed and manufactured several items for local businesses, THE
SMILE COIN is their first product created at the intersection of nonprofit community service and mental
health awareness. This is also the first time the students have collaborated with an artist, bringing the
essence and impact of STEAM learning in the classroom and the community full-circle.
“This has truly been a collaboration between all parties involved and a great learning experience for the
Dutch Manufacturing students,” said Dutch Manufacturing Coordinator Jesse Schreiber. “They have had
the chance to use the skills and knowledge that they have learned in class and apply them to a real-world
scenario. A huge thank you to Gerg Tool and Die, Inc., Metco Industries, Inc., and Ion Technologies for
working with the students to make this project a success.”
The Community Education Center secured the funding for manufacturing THE SMILE COIN at Metco
Industries, Inc. via a generous Powder Metal Initiative mini-grant through Penn State DuBois. Likewise,
Gerg Tool & Die, Inc. made the tools for the project and Ion Technologies did the coating. The CEC has
long focused on programming around science, technology, engineering, math, and the arts throughout Elk
and Cameron Counties, including their longtime support of Dutch Manufacturing.
“It has been such a pleasure working with the Dutch Manufacturing students to collaboratively create
THE SMILE COIN,” said CEC Executive Director Kate Brock. “Together, we have made creative and
technical decisions along the way to produce a meaningful and inspiring outcome that will ripple across
the entire school district. This project is one more example of why our community is so proud to be the
home of this student-run enterprise!”
For more information about Dutch Manufacturing, please visit http://www.dutchmfg.com.

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