The St. Thomas/St. John Youth Chess Club is $6,000 short of its $16,000 budget to send four teams, totaling 17 St. Thomas and St. John kids, to the Southern Regional Amateur Scholastic Chess Tournament in Orlando. To help make up the shortfall, the organization is looking for donations.
The students will leave Feb. 16, and return Feb. 21, for the United Chess Federation-sponsored tournament.
Last year, a team from the Virgin Islands, the Rock City Gambits, won the tournament.
Sinclair Wilkinson, who is organizing the trip for the youths, said expenses include airfare, hotel accommodations, transportation, food, registration, and outings to a science museum, an entertainment park, and a zoo.
“But the main purpose is to compete in the chess tournament,” he said.
He also said this experience is expected to promote better skills in critical thinking, problem solving, concentration, leadership, and discipline.
Wilkinson added that it’s valuable for the students to compete regionally because they get a chance to test their skills, to meet other young people, and to develop lifelong friends.
The students are:
Charlotte Amalie High School: Abdul Abiff, Arthur Williams Jr., Briana Rhymer, and Shamiel Vanterpool.
Ivanna Eudora Kean High School: Ngozi Jones, Howard Jones and Nkosi Jones.
Ulla Muller Elementary School: Teon Persuad and Benjamin Berry.
Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School: Jen Joe Canazal and Matthew Wilkinson.
Sts. Peter and Paul School: Tommy Wise.
Gifft Hill School: Lloyd Joseph and Shawn Attika.
Antilles School: Manav Thadani and Alessandro Gever.
Montessori School: Alex Emerich.
Volunteer chess coaches are also needed for the St. John Club, the Pawn Sharks. Call Ronnie Jones at 514-4798.
To make a donation, call Wilkinson at 514-7054, or mail a contribution to V.I. Institute for Teaching and Learning, Box 10195, St. Thomas, VI. 00801.
