Texas Tech Holds Spring Commencement Ceremonies
More than 2,500 Red Raiders crossed the stage to receive their diploma at the United Spirit Arena Saturday.
Family and friends were on hand to cheer on the graduates.
Grandmaster Susan Polgar, four time Women’s World Chess Champion and five time Olympic Chess Champion spoke at the two commencement ceremonies held Saturday.
At the ceremony, Tech officials announced Polgar was hired to be a part of the Tech faculty.
Source: NBC News 11 – Lubbock
A ‘seismic event’ in the world of chess
Texas Tech University, known athletically as the home of Bobby Knight and the Air Raid football offense, could soon be equally feared for its wicked endgame.
The university announced Saturday that it will establish the Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE) and hire chess powerhouses Susan Polgar and Paul Truong to head the program.
Polgar, four-time women’s classical world chess champion and five-time Olympic chess champion, has been hired as director of SPICE and coach of the Knight Raiders chess team.
…”We are obviously very excited about SPICE and the opportunities it will provide,” said Polgar. “We plan to build one of the world’s premier centres for chess research and outreach while solidifying Texas Tech as a national chess contender.”
The institute will include academic and outreach components and provide an almost unprecedented forum for academic research on the game.
Situated under the Office of the Provost, SPICE will allow researchers across disciplines to study chess from angles as diverse as artificial intelligence, cognition, and women’s studies.
Here is the full piece.
National Elementary Chess Championship Attracts Tough Competition to Music City
American Chronicle
Newswire Services
May 3, 2007
Crossville – More than 2000 K-6 students from over 45 states will travel to Nashville, Tennessee, May 11-13. They will pit mind against mind across a chess board as they compete in the 2007 Burt Lerner National Elementary Chess Championship. Accompanied by another 2000 parents, teachers, and coaches, this entourage will help students from Kindergarten through 6th grade prepare, play, analyze, and play again throughout the grueling three days and seven rounds. The annual national championship is held this year at Nashville’s Opryland Hotel and is organized by the United States Chess Federation, (USCF).
…In addition, GM Susan Polgar will take on 24 players (on 24 boards!) at one time in what is known as a simultaneous exhibition. Josh Waitzkin, of “Searching for Bobby Fischer” fame, will sign copies of his new book, “The Art of Learning.”
Here is the full article.
Excellent job! You’re doing more in one weekend that the other candidates like Lux, Jones, Goodall, Sloan do in a year. I wish you and your team the best. We don’t need the same old garbage.
Welcome to the Red Raider family, Mrs. Polgar! I was in the audience this afternoon (just graduated!) and thoroughly enjoyed your address. I will be following your progress with keen interest. Wreck’em!
-Aaron Dickens
Congratulations !!