In May, Upper Elementary students at Armleder participated in the Amazing Shake, a professional development competition created by the Ron Clark Academy (a program that has inspired monumental shifts in Armleder’s culture).

“The goal of bringing it to Armleder was to unite our school community while teaching students critical professional and interpersonal skills for future success,” says Mariah Harris, Administrative Assistant at Armleder. “With the support of local business professionals, we saw this as a powerful opportunity to give students authentic, real-world experiences that develop confidence, communication, and character.”

Over the course of two days, students competed in four rounds of fierce—albeit friendly—competition. In Round 1, The Gauntlet, 48 competitors experienced fast-paced, high-energy stations where they were tasked with asking a boss for a raise or motivating a basketball team down 15 points at halftime, among other fictitious scenarios.

The top 25 students advanced to Round 2: The Circle of Doom. “This round featured a panel of professionals seated in a circle. One by one, students stood in the center and were rapidly asked lightning-round questions by each adult in the circle,” says Harris. “Students were scored on the quality, clarity, and professionalism of their responses.”

From there, the top 15 students competed in Round 3, Work the Room, where they participated in a mock business networking event, mingling with professional businesspeople and presenting themselves confidently.

The top 5 engaged in the most trying test yet in Round 4: The Lunch Interview. At a restaurant in downtown Cincinnati, competitors took part in a one-on-one lunch meeting with a Cincinnati city executive. “This round tested their ability to maintain conversation, show respect, and carry themselves with maturity and polish in a formal setting,” says Harris.

In the end, sixth grader Brooklyn Hudson wowed on all fronts, earning the title as Armleder’s first Amazing Shake Champion.

“Thank you, judges, for helping me with The Amazing Shake experience. It truly helped my professionalism and leadership skills. Thank you for sitting one-on-one with me to push me to achieve my goal,” says Hudson. “I hope you can come back next year to give more students this amazing opportunity of growth. We cannot thank you enough!"

To say the competition was a success is an understatement. Of the more than 30 volunteers who helped make the Amazing Shake possible, dozens commented on the impressiveness of Armleder’s students and all-around fun, immersive experience. Students, too, are eager for the competition’s return next year, some already incorporating soft skills, like holding conversations, into their daily rhythms to prepare for what will no doubt be an even tougher battle for bragging rights.

“We introduced the Amazing Shake to provide our students with early exposure to the soft skills they’ll need to succeed beyond school—skills like communication, leadership, adaptability, and confidence. While academics are vital, we also believe that developing a student’s character and professionalism is equally important,” says Harris. “The goal was to create a memorable, fun, and empowering experience where students could grow socially and emotionally in a supportive environment. Given how impactful the event was, we absolutely plan to host it again next year and look forward to expanding it even further.”