Middle school students develop professional skills at Amazing Shake event

The SURC at Central Washington University recently played host to a unique professional development event for middle school students called The Amazing Shake.

The nationwide competition gives young people an opportunity to showcase their communication and social skills in a professional environment. At the February 12 regional event on the Ellensburg campus, participants from four Central Washington school districts dressed in suits and business attire. Judges graded them on how well they could hold a conversation, maintain eye contact and give a firm handshake.

The students also got to participate in panel interviews, followed by an awards ceremony for the top-performing students. A group of standouts from the regional competition is now preparing to attend next month’s national competition in Atlanta. 

The regional event was put on by the Naches Valley School District, in partnership with CWU. Naches school officials explained that the competition is part of a new curriculum in the district designed to develop middle school students' leadership skills. The district recently introduced a class to accompany The Amazing Shake regional competition, which welcomed students from Naches, Wahluke, Royal City, and Othello.

“In K-12, we really don't teach these skills, specifically, and that's what each of these districts are doing,"  Naches Superintendent Robert Bowman said in a recent Yakima Herald-Republic article.

The Amazing Shake is designed to help students develop practical skills and etiquette through communication, professionalism and problem-solving. The simulated real-world scenarios are designed to build character and resilience and prepare students for future success. Competition activities include one-on-one speed questions, business parties or networking events, presentations and lunch interviews. 

Students are placed in real-world scenarios that may include mingling with a group of professionals, pitching a marketing rebrand idea to a local business, or impressing a business leader in an interview and landing a job. 

At Naches Valley, 150 competitors were cut down to 12 for the regional competition, then four for the national competition at the Ron Clark Academy from March 27-29. 

Bowman said he thought the Amazing Shake would be a worthwhile venture for his students because he has seen tangible differences between kids who go through the program and those who don't.

“No matter what job we have in life, having these kinds of skills — to relate, listen, communicate clearly, and empathy — are all good things,” Bowman told the Yakima Herald.

Principal Eric Inions said he is seeing student growth throughout the building.

“We see that kids are making eye contact again, advocating for themselves, talking to adults and carrying a little bit more confidence,” he said. “We're seeing it in the classroom, too. The kids have an understanding of how to listen (and) how to be an audience member.”