Chess and Education through SPICE in Lubbock

Attached is an article written about the Chess Fiesta held over Labor Day with PCT 3 Lubbock County Commisioner Ysidro Gutierrez faithfully representing his Precinct demonstrating his zeal for education improvement for minorities in Lubbock featured in a picture with Chess Grand Master Susan Polgar who is the Director of the new Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (S.P.I.C.E).

Susan's vision is improving education opportunities for girls and minorities in the region through the advancement of chess education facilitated by S.P.I.C.E.! This is great news for the Hispanic and African American communities here in Lubbock, Texas.

The Chess Fiesta was definitely a success! Many thanks to El Editor Hispanic newspaper for *free* advertisment of the event on the front page of their periodical a few hours before press time! Incredible!

Lubbock County Commissioner Ysidro Gutierrez speaks with Chess Grandmaster Dr. Susan Polgar during a break at Dr. Polgar’s presentation “Chess Training Program for Teachers.”

Dr. Polgar spoke at the Texas Tech University College of Education.

"There is a very close correlation between chess excellence and academic capability," said Dr. Polgar. Dr. Polgar is from Budapest Hungary, but she speaks perfect Spanish. Commissioner Gutierrez believes, her program brings great hope for Hispanic students in Lubbock.

“There is a direct correlation between chess and a student’s ability to master math and science and it is fun,” says Dr. Polgar.

TTU hired her as the new director of The Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE). During the presentation she announced that TTU has been designated the world center for research in chess.

Commissioner Gutierrez expressed great hope in Dr. Polgars initiative, “Hispanic children who perform well in math and science have a greater chance to end the cycle of poverty and will be less likely to drop-out of school. We need something new to escape the bad statistics. Locating the world center here speaks of Dr. Polgars renown as a Grandmaster. Such research will add the element of science to the art of chess,” said Commissioner Gutierrez.

She is the first woman in history to qualify for Men’s World Championship and the first woman in history to earn the Grandmaster title. “I urge everyone to read more about Dr. Polgar at her web page; http://www.susanpolgar.com/” said Commissioner Gutierrez. (Photo by Jerry Perez)