WAITSBURG­­-The Waitsburg School District is participating in the Amazing Shake National Competition this school year. Since September, students have been learning professional skills in the Cardinal Way, including how to interview, remain calm under pressure, and respond appropriately to different situations.

All students in the fourth through eighth grades have participated in two Cardinal Way events. On November 9, students worked on their handshakes and eye contact and carried out one-minute conversations with a community member. The judges were Rosy Nechodom, Brenda Henderson, Jaimiee Knudson, Brynne Vasquez, and Karen Huwe.

The second Cardinal Way event was held on December 1, with Susie and Mitch Payne, Denise Hoon, Liv Leid, and Roseann Groom judging the students.

On December 13. The students competed in an Amazing Shake Mini Gauntlet where the students were challenged in five stages: sell a random item at Whatchamacallit, sing the US state song at Nifty Fifty, share something they have learned from CNN 10, entertain the judge for one minute at Runway, and sell the importance of the Amazing Shake at Elevator Speech.

Judges for the event were Becky and Marty Dunn, Stan Hughes, Carol Clark, Mike Ferrians, Chuck Reeves, Heather Bell White, and Jim Romine.

Principal Joe Wirtzberger presented certificates to the top twenty-five winners from the mini gauntlet in a school assembly on December 15.

The following students will go on to represent the district at the regional competition: Wyatt Parish, Lilli Carpenter, Rozalyn Harvey, Chloe McCaw, Jaylynn Gleason, Oaklee Adams, Verbena McLaughlin, Myles Frasco, Katy Allen, Olivia Kiefel, Katherine Roberts, Joaquim Ferreira, Murdoch McLaughlin, Rylee Cole, Emily Knudson, Carter Barron, Emma Langford, Ava McCaw, Shylo Hedges, Laila Long, Makaelyn Mikesell, Sawyer Harshman, Victoria Whitmore, Ollivyr Dahlby and Colt Boudrdieau. 

The Regional Amazing Shake competition will be held on February 1 at Wahluke Jr High School in Mattawa, Wash. The top four Waitsburg students from the competition will represent the school district at the National Amazing Shake Competition hosted by the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, in March of 2024.