TESTING SKILLS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

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February 5, 2026

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here.

Now in its fifth year at Notre Dame Prep, the Amazing Shake challenges students to demonstrate professionalism, adaptability and confidence through a multiweek competition that blends leadership training with high-energy, real-world scenarios.

The Grimaldi Athletic Center looked less like a gym and more like a stage this week as Notre Dame Prep today launched the fifth edition of its Amazing Shake competition.

Adapted from a national program created at the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, The Amazing Shake challenges students to demonstrate professionalism, composure and interpersonal skills in fast-moving, often unpredictable scenarios. At Notre Dame Prep, the event has become a signature experience in its middle school, blending leadership development with spectacle and community involvement.

“This event prepares our students so that they are able to present themselves exceptionally well for opportunities today as well as those that will come in the future,” said Brandon Jezdimir, NDP’s middle school principal.

The competition runs through late February, with multiple rounds that narrow the field and increase the level of difficulty. Parents and guests are invited to attend many of the later stages and witness students tested in real-time.

The Gauntlet sets the tone

The opening round, known as the Gauntlet, spans two days and transforms the athletic center into an obstacle course of professional interactions. Roughly 25 stations challenge students to respond within 60 seconds to scenarios that range from playful to pressure-filled.

Past iterations have included mock television interviews, press briefings and customer service dilemmas. This year’s competition opened with a Disney-themed twist, adding creativity to the already fast-paced environment.

Pranya Beri, an eighth grader who won Notre Dame Prep’s Amazing Shake last year and later advanced to the global competition in Atlanta, said the Gauntlet was where the experience came into focus.

“The Gauntlet tests how fast you can adapt,” Beri said during an interview after her 2025 experience. “You go from acting silly as a restaurant manager confiscating a rodent to seriously defending yourself in a mock speeding ticket scenario. It taught me how to stay calm under pressure — and how to lead with both confidence and empathy.”

Judges score students on elements such as eye contact, handshake, confidence and clarity of presentation. Only top performers advance.

From speed questions to structured debate

As the field narrows, the competition shifts from quick reactions to deeper engagement.

In the Circle of Doom round, students face rapid-fire, one-on-one questions from local business leaders seated in a round-robin format. The goal is consistency, poise and the ability to think clearly under scrutiny.

Work the Room challenges students to network authentically, inserting themselves into conversations respectfully while building rapport. The Debate round evaluates not only knowledge, but listening skills, civility and confidence.

Eighth grader Daniella Sacco, last year’s Michigan regional Amazing Shake champion, said the scale of the event made a lasting impression on her last year.

“It was everything at once — intense, hilarious and unexpected,” Sacco said. “From day one, I knew this competition was going to shape who I am.”

A culminating showcase

The final rounds raise the stakes further. A corporate presentation serves as the semifinal, with five students presenting to judges as if pitching to executives. The competition concludes with a final interview among the top three students, who must demonstrate polish, maturity and self-awareness.

The Notre Dame Prep champion earns the opportunity to travel to Atlanta and compete on the national stage at the Ron Clark Academy.

An invitation to the community

Beyond crowning a winner, school leaders emphasize that The Amazing Shake reflects Notre Dame Prep’s broader commitment to forming confident, respectful and capable young leaders.

For current and prospective families, the competition offers a window into how classroom lessons translate into real-world skills. For parents, it provides a front-row seat to see students navigate challenges that mirror future academic, professional and personal experiences.

With rounds continuing through Feb. 26, Jezdimir encourages families to attend and experience firsthand the energy, discipline and growth on display, “qualities that have made The Amazing Shake such an important part of life at Notre Dame Prep.”

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here.

Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org

About Notre Dame Preparatory School
"At Notre Dame Prep, we inspire our students to become the best versions of themselves. We challenge them through an experience of academic excellence, focused on active, project-based learning. We invite them to explore a world of opportunities beyond the classroom. We guide them as they grow in spirituality within a community strong in its Catholic and Marist identity."

Notre Dame Preparatory School is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. Notre Dame Preparatory School's upper school enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame Prep's middle and lower schools enroll students in pre-kindergarten through grade eight. All three schools are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDP is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the National Association of Independent Schools. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School, visit the school’s home page at www.ndpma.org.