The Amazing Shake

In the Work the Room challenge, students practice their first impressions by moving around a room filled with adults, teachers, or community members. Their goal is to confidently introduce themselves, make eye contact, shake hands, and hold short, engaging conversations. Students are evaluated on their confidence, body language, conversational skills, and ability to connect quickly with others. This activity helps build poise, professionalism, and strong communication skills they can use in real-world situations. All Ellis Middle School students participate in Round 1 with 50 advancing to Round 2.

In the Circle of Doom round, students are challenged to think quickly, stay composed under pressure, and demonstrate strong communication skills. Students rotate through a series of rapid-fire questions, scenarios, or tasks presented by judges. The pace is fast, and the goal is to see how well they can maintain confidence, clarity, and professionalism while handling unpredictable challenges. This round pushes students to show adaptability, quick thinking, and poise—skills that are essential in real-world interactions.

The Gauntlet is a rapid series of professional scenarios designed to test their composure, communication, and interpersonal skills. Each student moves quickly from one judge to the next, responding to different challenges such as introductions, interviews, or problem-solving situations. The pace is intense, requiring students to think on their feet, adapt to new situations instantly, and demonstrate confidence under pressure. The goal is to showcase poise, professionalism, and strong first impressions in a variety of real-world interactions.

In the Debate round, students go head-to-head to argue different sides of a topic. They must think critically, organize their ideas quickly, and present their arguments with confidence and respect. Judges look for strong communication, active listening, and the ability to respond thoughtfully to opposing points. This round challenges students to stay poised under pressure while demonstrating persuasive speaking skills and professionalism in a competitive setting.