“The largest ice storm on record in Kentucky just hit Lexington and surrounding counties, causing power outages, wreaking havoc and making travel virtually impossible.”

More than 100 students recited those words Monday morning as they funneled through the Campbell Junior High School library stopping at more than 20 stations where they would put to their skills to the test — including giving a breaking weather news report.

The students were competing in The Gauntlet, the first round of competition in the school’s Amazing Shake contest where community leaders judged them on a variety of on-the-spot tasks.

Students went through a mock job interview, talked to an upset parent, conducted a press conference, gave a sales pitch for haircare products, taught their elders how to use a cell phone, gave a eulogy for a gold fish, went through an interrogation with police and even defended Goldilocks to a judge. Students were given a minute at each of these stations and many more Monday, where they were able to exhibit their professional skills.

Campbell’s Amazing Shake program is inspired by the national program that teaches students professional, discipline and soft skills such as interviewing, respect, eye contact and a proper handshake.

At Campbell, students also have to complete a community service project.

Amazing Shake started at Campbell last year with seventh graders in advanced classes completing a community service project during which they collected hygiene products for veterans and put together a project for the school’s annual Veterans Day program.

Leah Adams, a seventh-grade social studies teacher at RDC, previously told The Sun she and other staff learned about Amazing Shake while visiting Mason County schools.

Campbell expanded Amazing Shake this year to include eighth graders in advanced classes in addition to the seventh graders in advanced classes. The ultimate goal is for every student in Campbell to participate in the program in 2021.

According to the contest website, “The Amazing Shake is a dynamic and exciting live competition that rallies leaders and role models in a school’s community together to teach students about professional skills for success. During the Amazing Shake, students learn and develop professional qualities — from the mechanics of a proper handshake to how to “work the room” — so that they are able to present themselves exceptionally well for opportunities today and in the future.”

The students competing locally were impressive and gave a renewed sense of hope for future generations. The competitors accomplished things many adults wouldn’t have been able to, all while maintaining their composure and holding their heads high.

It showed great bravery and confidence for these young people to overcome one obstacle only to face another and another as they worked their way through the contest.

And regardless of what the score sheets said this week, each of the student participants are winners in our eyes. They walked away from the experience able to say they did it — they made it through The Gauntlet. That alone was an accomplishment, but the true victory was the skills and confidence they will take with them to life’s next challenges.

This contest is especially beneficial because employers say one of the greatest challenges many employees face is a lack of soft-skills — things like communication skills, attitude, work ethic, teamwork, critical thinking, leadership, customer service, how to follow instructions, etc.

We feel confident Clark County students will excel in those areas, especially if the district continues to support efforts like The Amazing Shake.

Editorials represent the opinion of the newspaper’s editorial board. The board is comprised of publisher Michael Caldwell and Bluegrass Newsmedia editors Whitney Leggett and Ben Kleppinger. To inquire about a meeting with the board, contact Caldwell at 759-0095.