Hicksville Sixth Graders Shine in Real-World Learning Competition

Hicksville’s entire sixth grade class recently took part in the 2025 6th Grade Shake, a multi-round competition designed to challenge students in communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking.

The experience began at Hicksville Schools with Round 1, where students participated in mock interviews and demonstrated personal strengths. From there, 20 students were selected to move on to Round 2, hosted at the Huber Opera House and Civic Center. In this round, students worked in teams to design their own schools—developing everything from curriculum and extracurriculars to campus culture and climate.

Round 3 took place on Day 2, with the Top 10 presenting creative ideas to enhance a Fan Night Experience for the Fort Wayne TinCaps. After presenting to local volunteers and receiving feedback, the Top 5 were announced during lunch. These five students then spent the afternoon refining their presentations in preparation for the final round.

Round 4 brought the Top 5 finalists to Parkview Field in Fort Wayne, where they presented directly to TinCaps executives. The judges were impressed by the professionalism and innovation each student demonstrated.

After four rounds of challenges, sixth grader Sylvia Wang was named the 2025 6th Grade Shake Champion. While only one winner was crowned, all participants walked away with valuable experience and confidence built on real-world learning.

The event would not have been possible without the support of numerous volunteers, community judges, and partner organizations. Hicksville Schools is proud of every student who participated and grateful to those who made the event such a meaningful success.