Posted by L. Suhay, HHCF Va.
NORFOLK, VA. -- Maurice Jones, publisher of The Virginian-Pilot Newspaper, has been a Rhodes Scholar, corporate lawyer and a Governor's right hand man, but until he learned how to play chess he didn't have the full respect of a room full of Teenagers.
"Dude's got it now," said A.J. Evans, who took a turn coaching Jones in his first game of a lifetime against his new chess teacher, Lovone Wynn. "Think he's going to be alright."
The visit was part of a pre-graduation pick-me-up for a graduating class of 13 students here who have been through some tough economic and emotional times. Throughout those times, chess has been the beacon. Passing the torch, teaching others to play, at any age, is the final act of this class hoping to graduate May 29the.
The other unifying action HHCF Ryan has taken this week is the creation of the Kim martin Hip-Hop Chess memorial scholarship fund. Mrs. Martin, whose sons Fred and Kyle are graduating HHCF Life Strategies players, died of breast cancer January 5 of this year.
The fund, backed by the HHCF, will primarily be used for tuition assistance first for this graduating class and hopefully to aid many HHCF high school seniors in the years to come.
The HHCF Life Strategies Senior class of Norfolk, Virginia are the first Board of Directors:
Matthew Anderson
Michael Applegate
Devyn Becker
Joseph Cusic
Alexander James(A.J.)Evans
VanNak Khorn
Dirk Nguyen
Fred Martin
Kyle Martin
Meagan Morse
Kelcee O'Neal
Raven Niles
Lovonne Wynn
Thank you Mr. Jones for caring enough to share your time and spirit with our players. By being willing to learn from these students you empowered them as teachers and players. What a fitting graduation gift.
