On May 15th and 16th, Tinora Middle School was buzzing with energy, confidence, and courage as nearly 70 of our students stepped into the spotlight during The Amazing Shake competition. This dynamic event challenged students to stretch beyond their comfort zones—and they did so with professionalism, grace, and heart.
One of the most memorable parts of the event was the “Work the Room” round. Our student competitors were tasked with navigating a room of 23 judges from across the community, introducing themselves, maintaining conversations, and leaving a lasting impression—all within a tight 30-minute window. From firm handshakes to polished attire and thoughtful conversation, our students left a mark. Several judges even commented that Tinora students were the best they had ever encountered!
After careful scoring, the top 20 students advanced to Round 2: an exciting and fast-paced “gauntlet” made up of 10 creative, real-world scenarios. Students cheered up grumpy astronauts (thanks to some dramatic flair from the Defiance County Sheriff’s Office), tackled a dispute over a broken space toilet, and delivered mock newscasts—all designed to test their poise, quick thinking, and communication skills.
Our final five students were invited to a special business lunch hosted by The State Bank. This was not only a reward, but also an opportunity to engage in professional conversation in a real-world setting. The team at The State Bank evaluated each student and determined our final rankings. It was an inspiring end to a truly remarkable experience.
To all of our participants: You amazed us. Your willingness to take on challenges, speak with confidence, and represent Tinora Middle School so well is something to be proud of. Whether you advanced or not, you walked away with valuable life skills that will serve you for years to come.
To our eighth graders moving on to high school: Carry the courage, confidence, and communication you showed here into everything you do next. You are more than ready.
And to our incredible parents and families: Thank you for encouraging your children to participate in this meaningful journey. Your support helped make this event a success.
Congratulations to everyone involved in this year’s Amazing Shake. We can’t wait to see what next year brings!
Our top FIVE winners were Teagen Billing, Madison Fleming, Colin Stein, Lauren Rittenhouse and Henry Parsons.
Thank you to our judges: David Kern - County Commissioner, Dana Phipps - County Commissioner, Chelsea Cereghin - Assistant Prosecutor, Abigail Herman - homemaker, Ethan Hearne -USDA, Chuck Florence - Retired, Chris Connely - Defiance County 4H, Marla Pancake - Airport, Kenna Pancake - Airport, Abby Wolfrum, United Way Executive Director, Kenna Wagner, United Way Marketing Director, Kinsey Dietrich - Nurse, Rod Rethmel - Retired, Jason Vandemark - Ayersville Community Church, Bethany Singer - student, Jewell Grain (Deb Peters), Jean Meyer - retired, Melanie Rittenour Keller's Trucking, Joe Stykemain - Stykemain, Stan Strausbaugh - Biggby, Erin Strausbaugh - Attorney/Owner Strausbaugh Law Office, LLC, Clay Fogt-Shelter Insurance, Teresa Johnson - OSU Extension Office, Taylor Booth - iHeart Media, MJ Miller, Dawn Ludwig - Brookview Healthcare, Kaitlyn's Cottage, Marla Pancake - Airport, Larry Acocks, Kirk Fruth, Gayle Rutter, Deputy Hall, Deputy Flanary, Deputy Grillot, Taylor Booth - iHeart Media, Eric West
