Students return from Global Amazing Shake

WAITSBURG - Six Waitsburg students have returned from an amazing experience in Atlanta, Georgia.

The students qualified to compete at the Global Amazing Shake event at the Ron Clark Academy in March. While there, the students and their chaperones enjoyed several attractions in Atlanta. The Coca-Cola Museum, the Martin Luther King Memorial, the Fernbank Natural History Museum, and the College Football Hall of Fame were big hits.

Over 400 students from the United States, Canada, and Honduras attended the event, emphasizing manners, discipline, respect, and professional conduct. The three-day competition consists of case-scenario stations that all the 4th through 8th-grade students pass through. The Waitsburg students met new people, learned history and culture, and did well in the "Work the Room" challenge at the Academy.

Ava McCaw's favorite part was the "Work the Room" challenge. Carter Barron enjoyed meeting new people, making life-long friendships, and the places the group visited. Kaitlyn Paul enjoyed learning about the soda company's history at the Coca-Cola Museum.

Emily Knudson enjoyed meeting new friends at the event. Oaklee Adams liked meeting Ron Clark and going down the slide where students were given a topic to start conversations. A highlight for Wiley Gagon was the visit to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Chaperone Dusty Wirtzberger loved seeing the kids experience Atlanta, its culture, the competition, and trying new things outside their comfort zones.

Chaperone Tracy Barron said that the students meeting other competitors and making new friends was a definite highlight. The Waitsburg students strengthened their bonds with each other, which Barron said was great to see.

The school, chaperones, and the students thank the community for helping these young people get the opportunity of a lifetime. They all enjoyed all aspects of the trip.