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)
You’re the true ambassador of chess!
I wish you a lot of success in helping chess in Texas.
I believe the following convention, cited on http://www.degrees.com/doctoral/ applies in the USA …
“The title of Doctor is used both by and of those holding research doctorates or some professional (usually medical) degrees, but according to convention is not used by or of those holding honorary doctorates.”
Of course, if TTU advise differently, that is another thing.
Interesting article – who wrote it and where did it appear?
Very impressive that Susan Polgar speaks Spanish perfectly. What other languages does she speak perfectly?
I think it’s written by someone at El Editor Spanish newspaper. And who cares if a journalist uses the word Doctor. The point is she did something good for a lot of people.
I think she speaks Hungarian, Russian, German, English, Hebrew, Spanish and Esperanto. I read that somewhere.
Wikipedia – which is surprisingly authoritative – says Susan speaks eight languages fluently. Bulgarian should be added to your list.
I think she also speaks the language of chess fluently.
If Susan can get in a photo with coach Bobby Knight and post it on this blog, I would be so ever grateful.
“There is a very close correlation between chess excellence and academic capability,” …
“Correlation does not imply causation” … http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Correlation_does_not_imply_causation (and other sources)
‘Increased incidence of swimming-pool deaths’ correlates with ‘increased sales of ice-cream’ – but ‘heat wave’ is the common cause of both.
What is meant by a “very close correlation” as opposed to just a ‘correlation’?
We can all casually agree that chess is a good thing in moderation. But an apparently more formal, ‘academic’ statement needs evidence. What research has actually been done on this? Did Aberdeen quote sources?
Too many trolls lately 🙁
The interesting thing is not correlation, which may be coincidental, see above, but whether chess contributes positively to the development of those who study it.
There is little doubt that it does, though whether it does so better than other ways is not clear.
The considerable lore of chess – including ECO and Chessbase – increases the cost of entry to real success in chess. That is a fascinating part of its history, but in my opinion a downside as a tool for personal development.