ATLANTA (February 18, 2019) – On Friday, February 22nd, the Ron Clark Academy (RCA) will kickoff its second installment of the National Amazing Shake Competition, a weekend dedicated to cultivating the skills needed for students to be successful in a professional environment. At its core, the Academy is a school that places an emphasis on teaching students manners, discipline, and respect. By teaching students about the mechanics of giving a proper handshake and conversing with professionals, RCA aims to provide the tools for students to present themselves exceptionally well for opportunities today and in the future.
Over 265 students representing 21 states in the U.S. and the countries of Honduras and Nigeria will convene upon RCA’s campus to experience the challenge and represent on behalf of their respective schools. During the weekend, students will experience numerous obstacles and challenges as they interact with professionals in “The Gauntlet,” a creative course consisting of approximately 30 stations purposed to test their professional acumen. Afterwards, the top students will spend Saturday moving onto subsequent rounds, which include “working the room” with executives, engaging in round-robin style speed questioning, and delivering compelling speeches in public settings. On Sunday morning, the remaining finalists will compete in the last round before the second champion of the National Amazing Shake is crowned.
Leading up to the national competition, many schools hosted their own local Amazing Shake competitions in order to name a winner and determine which students would travel to Atlanta for the big finale. Participating states include but are not limited to Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Illinois, Maryland, Texas, Nevada, and Washington. As aforementioned, students from Honduras will be attending for the second year while students from Nigeria will be making their first experience. The top 11 students from the Academy’s most recent contest of their own will also compete for the overall crown. Additionally, Ron Clark Academy 8thgrader and 2018 National Amazing Shake Champion, Keanen Andrews, will seek to defend his title in this year’s installment.
“Last year’s National Amazing Shake set a movement in motion that is dedicated to going above and beyond in the professional opportunities our schools can provide for students,” said senior director of development Kirk Brown. “As we eagerly await this year’s competition, we’re excited to see this contest be a life-changing experience for so many students who will take what they’ve learned back to their communities.”
The Amazing Shake National Competition will take place at The Ron Clark Academy, located at 228 Margaret St SE, Atlanta, GA 30315. To see footage from the weekend’s activities, follow the school on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RonClarkAcademy and on Instagram, @ronclarkacademy.
About the Ron Clark Academy
The Ron Clark Academy is a private, non-profit middle school and educator training program in Southeast Atlanta that promotes innovation and inspires its students and educators through energetic teaching balanced by a strict code of discipline. The Academy currently relies on outside funding to provide scholarships to students from varying academic and financial backgrounds. For more information, please visit ronclarkacademy.com
Media Contacts
Kim Bearden, 678-428-5472
bearden@ronclarkacademy.com
Kirk Brown, 678-651-2101
kbrown@ronclarkacademy.com
