Honoring a Legacy Through Handshakes at Watkins Elementary

Watkins Elementary honored Mr. Wally Watkins by hosting their first-ever handshake competition for the entire fourth-grade class. At 88 years old, Watkins remains committed to building connections with the staff and students at the school that bears his name.

The fourth graders participated by first competing in a classroom contest, where they practiced strong handshaking, eye contact, and how to lead a conversation with their teachers. The teachers then picked the top 30 to advance. In the next round, students demonstrated their skills by greeting the judges with a firm handshake and engaging in conversation. Based on their performance, the panel of staff and administrative judges selected the top 10 students who displayed the strongest handshake and best communication skills.

“We specifically designed the judges to be individuals that the students may not have met before that moment. The kindness, honesty, and lightheartedness of their interactions were priceless,” Watkins Principal Jennifer Wiseman said.

In the final round, Watkins served as the ultimate judge and selected Kennedy Korenek as the overall winner.

“I loved that Mr. Watkins was able to attend the final round and pick our winner. We wanted him to know that the students attending Watkins Elementary were carrying on his legacy through every handshake in the future,” Wiseman said.

Throughout the final 10 competition, students were given about a minute to show off their conversation skills with Watkins. He asked the students questions about themselves, such as what they want to be when they grow up, what their favorite part about Watkins Elementary is, and more.

“This is an important skill in life,” Watkins said.

Watkins was joined by his two daughters, Staci Sherman and Lisa Hickman, along with his wife of 65 years, Nita Watkins, who all helped him select a winner out of the top 10 finalists.

“He has always been very big on handshakes, and nowadays it’s not a very big deal for kids to learn,”  Sherman said.

Students also had the chance to ask Watkins questions, providing them with a personal opportunity to get to know the person their school is named after. This experience not only helped them strengthen their conversation and handshake skills but also deepened their understanding of their school's history and legacy.

“I love that the students get to work on real-life skills such as introducing themselves, holding a polite conversation and making a good impression through their behaviors and words,” Wiseman said. “It is important that our students are taught how to be great citizens outside of the building. These skills will help them be successful in life.”

Winner of the competition, Korenek, stood out not only for her strong handshake and exceptional conversation skills, but also for her effort in including Watkins' wife by introducing herself to her and shaking her hand as well.

Although there was only one winner, each student who participated showed great effort and enthusiasm while demonstrating strong handshakes and confident conversation skills. This competition provided an opportunity for students to practice important life skills and honor Watkins.