Benteen Elementary wins Fall Kickoff Championship!

On Saturday, November 16th, Benteen Elementary competed against all of the Atlanta-area Public School chess teams and won ALL four of the 1st place trophies. With this victory, they earned a chance to compete in the National Chess Competition to be held December 13-15, 2002 at the Hilton Hotel in Downtown Atlanta.

Benteen Elementary first place winners are: 2nd grader Alex Escandon, 3rd grader Malcolm Johnson, 4th grader Barnabe Escandon, and 5th grader Juan Izaguirre. Benteen Elementary has also 3 second place winners: 2nd grader Nelly Cortines, 4th grader Stephany Escandon, and 5th grader Pedro Luna.

Two-time Academy Award winner Jane Fonda decided to sponsor a chess program and sought consultation from the United States Chess Federation. They provided her with guidance and names of potential partners. She ultimately asked two-time chess champion Orrin C. Hudson to assist her in her efforts to promote chess among children because of the academic benefits it delivers.

Hudson, founder of Be Someone, Inc., coaches the children at Benteen Elementary School and has been instrumental in having the school win three Atlanta Public Schools (APS) chess tournaments. He will be training the kids for the National chess upcoming tournament for the next two Saturdays (November 30th, December 7th), 10am-12 noon at Stonecrest Mall in Borders Book, 2929 Turner Hill Road, Lithonia, GA. 30038.

Posted by The Chess Drum:  29 November 2002