10/20/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Valley Life Charter School hosts first Amazing Shake Competition
Local school challenges students’ professional acumen with exciting contest
Visalia, CA, October 20, 2026 – On November 5th Valley Life Charter School will host its first Amazing Shake Competition, a contest that places an emphasis on teaching students’ manners, discipline, respect, and professional conduct. Through the Amazing Shake, a competition originally created by the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, students are introduced to the nuances of professional human interaction as they are taught various skills such as how to give a proper handshake, how to provide high-quality answers in interviews, and how to remain composed under pressure. At the end of the contest, the school aims to prepare its students to present themselves exceptionally well for opportunities today as well as those that will come in the future.
On November 19th, middle school students will experience numerous tests and challenges as they interact with community professionals from local businesses in “The Gauntlet,” a creative course consisting of approximately 20 stations. At each station, students will have 60 seconds to provide their best display of professional tact with the hope of earning respectable scores from the community judges. After the conclusion of the Gauntlet, students will move on to subsequent rounds, which include “working the room” with executives, engaging in round-robin style speed questioning, and delivering speeches in a tense setting.
After undergoing several rounds, each requiring their own level of critical thinking, the top six winners of the Valley Life Charter School’s Amazing Shake Competition will be named. The top six VLCS students will go on to compete against other Central Valley Middle Schools on January 23, 2027. The champions from the Valley Shake will be registered to compete against the top performers from across the world in the Ron Clark Academy’s Amazing Shake National Competition in March 2027.
Valley Life’s Amazing Shake Competition will take place at Valley Life Charter School, located at 3737 W Walnut Ave., Visalia, CA. To see footage from the competition, follow our school’s social media pages YouTube .
If you are interested in volunteering at the Shake, please sign up here: VLCS Shake Volunteer Form https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe6ontj-i3mG6hfTVnYv6KBkorNVSB4e_72xJr5ZT_JTO-EUw/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=101081630232005790504
