Students are learning the business, leadership and social skills to become the next leaders of our community and their first lesson is how to give a good handshake.

“Making eye contact, making sure you're not having too much of a firm grip — no dead fish or bone crusher,” is how fifth-grader Ella Jones explained a good handshake. Ella was the second place winner of Hawthorn Academy West Jordan campus’ Leadership Launch competition. First place winner was Yasmin Said and third place winner was Hudson Crookston, both fifth grade students.

As the Utah state winner, Hawthorn Academy eighth-grader Elena Monroe attends the global competition of the Amazing Shake finals held in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo courtesy Keerstyn Wright)

They were the top-scoring upper-elementary students at the end of two weeks of competitions during the last weeks of the school year, in which students were rated on qualities such as kindness, common sense, respect, helpfulness and well-roundedness.

“Each day we have a different phase of competition focusing on different leadership qualities and things that we really want these kids to take with them into the real world, because we really want to focus on being global leaders and global citizens, and not just students,” fourth grade teacher Keerstyn Wright said. 

On the first day of competition, all 225 third, fourth and fifth grade students were tested on their handshake. “We have judges that come in, and the kids will line up, and each one gives them a handshake,” Wright said. Some students were eliminated after each challenge.

“We didn't really know what challenges were coming next until the day — actually until we were in the classroom, most of the time,” Hudson said. “Some people might have changed themselves to be more respectful when really all you have to do is just be yourself.” 

Often, the students didn’t know what they were being evaluated for with each test, like when they participated in a karate demonstration by Champion Martial Arts.

A finalist shakes West Jordan Mayor Dirk Burton’s hand in the final panel interview of Hawthorn Academy’s Leadership Launch competition. (Clara Anderson/Hawthorn Academy)

“They wanted to see if there were students who encouraged others, showed integrity, displayed sportsmanship and empowered the people around them,” Wright said. “Every time a student demonstrated one of those skills, they earned marks from the judges. Because at the end of the day, leadership isn't about being the loudest or the strongest person in the room, it's about leading with your heart and lifting the others up along the way.”

The top six finalists had a final private interview with a panel of judges, made up of adults, last year’s winner and the eighth grade state winner. Yasmin said the skills encouraged by the program aren’t just for competition. “I think it's more for our future self and how we’re going to be when we grow up,” she said. “I'll get paid to do that someday.”

Hawthorn Academy staff members teach the business and leadership skills throughout the year and reward students for applying them, such as picking up trash, or being a good listener. 

“As they progress through this program, it's cool to see how it's just become a second nature to them,” Wright said.

The Leadership Launch prepares students to compete in the Ron Clark Academy’s Amazing Handshake competition on which it is patterned. Hawthorn Academy adopted the Ron Clark Academy house system a few years ago but this is the first year it has sent students to the competition. It was a surprise when Hawthorn Academy eighth grader Elena Monroe won first place at the state competition and placed in the top 100 at the global finals held in Georgia.

Elena said she gained new skills and more confidence through the competition. “This competition has taught me how to calm down,” she said. “I read a whole speech, and I didn't stutter one time — like, that would have never happened a couple months ago.”

Hawthorn Academy students participate in a martial arts demonstration, unaware they are being evaluated on sportsmanship. (Photo courtesy Keerstyn Wright)