{"id":1272,"date":"2024-04-11T10:24:15","date_gmt":"2024-04-11T17:24:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/calis\/?page_id=1272"},"modified":"2025-06-27T09:35:25","modified_gmt":"2025-06-27T16:35:25","slug":"student-initiatives-chess-outreach","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/calis\/student-initiatives-chess-outreach\/","title":{"rendered":"USC Chess Outreach"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Share your passion!<\/strong><\/em>
\nis the moral of the story<\/h2>\n

TIRP volunteer Luca Johnson asked about starting a chess class for 5th and 6th grade students…<\/p>\n

And the rest is his_story:<\/p>\n

A small chess family organically developed creating a team of students committed to learning the game of chess.<\/em><\/p>\n

Beginning in Fall 2022, the semester was dedicated to learning the basics and creating a foundation.\u00a0 In spring, we built on that foundation and added blitz games at the end of each lesson enabling students to play one another – and sometimes play me as well. We reviewed games to analyze moves and strategy. <\/em><\/p>\n

In the first year, five students demonstrated a true commitment, and I am very proud of their work. \u00a0Having witnessed their dedication and advancement with chess, they were presented with travel chess sets that are used at chess tournaments\u2014great to take on the road and to help acclimate for play in local chess competitions.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Teaching International Relations Program (TIRP)<\/a> <\/strong>has a history of volunteers who are passionate about community involvement!\u00a0 CALIS is thrilled to support TIRPers<\/em> who want to start new ventures.<\/p>\n

In Fall 2023, Luca recruited sophomore Arthur Markaryan to lead an intermediate class while he started another class for beginners.\u00a0 Luca and Arthur are a great team!\u00a0 In Year 2, an even bigger cohort of students earned recognition awards!\u00a0 And Year 3 included a kindergarten student!<\/p>\n

Kudos to Luca and Arthur <\/em><\/strong>for their dedication to these budding chess enthusiasts!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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\n Recognition Awards 2023\u2014 2025\n <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
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Classes are held online…
\n<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Congratulations are at school!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

USC Chess Outreach <\/strong>
\nPhoto Wall of Fame<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first year started with 5th and 6th graders, and now…
\n2025 awardees are in Kindergarten through 7th!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

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Matthew Lopez, 5th grade \u2502 2025<\/h3>\n \n \n
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Coach Arthur – Matthew – Krystal Kim-Fujishige, 5th\u00a0 grade teacher<\/p>\n

32nd Street\/USC Magnet<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n

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Michelle Yu, 3rd grade \u2502 2025<\/h3>\n \n \n
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Michelle Yu<\/p>\n

Ramona Elementary School, Alhambra<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n

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Sofia Rostomyan, Kindergarten \u2502 2025<\/h3>\n \n \n
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Carolynn Sanchez, K Teacher – Kerry Kehrley, Principal – Sofia – Coach Arthur<\/p>\n

32nd Street\/USC Magnet<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n

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Paola Perez, 3rd grade \u2502 2025<\/h3>\n \n \n
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Kerry Kehrley, Principal\u00a0– Coach Arthur – Paola – Jennifer Wong, 3rd grade Teacher<\/p>\n

32nd Street\/USC Magnet<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n

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Adifaah Manha & Gabriel Garzon, 5th grade \u2502 2024<\/h3>\n \n \n
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Kisha Maxie, 5th\u00a0 grade teacher – Adifaah – Gabriel
\nCoach Luca – Coach Arthur<\/p>\n

32nd Street\/USC Magnet<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n

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Osias Maxie, 7th grade \u2502 2025<\/h3>\n \n \n
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Kerry Kehrley, Principal – Kisha Maxie, 5th\u00a0 grade teacher – Osias – Coach Arthur<\/p>\n

32nd Street\/USC Magnet<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n

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Osias Maxie, 6th grade \u2502 2024<\/h3>\n \n \n
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Andy Li, 6th grade teacher – Kerry Kehrley, Principal – Osias – Coach Luca – Coach Arthur<\/p>\n

32nd Street\/USC Magnet<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n

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Nicholas Juarez Rodriguez, 5th grade \u2502 2024<\/h3>\n \n \n
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Craig Hinkel, 5th grade teacher – Coach Arthur – Nicholas – Coach Luca – Mercedes Pineda, Principal – Chris Llovera, USC Liaison<\/p>\n

Weemes Elementary School<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n

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Adifaah Manha, 5th & Anaum Mawhiba, 3rd \u2502 2024<\/h3>\n \n \n
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Coach Arthur – Coach Luca – Adifaah & Anaum, sisters – Jennifer Wong, 3rd grade teacher<\/p>\n

32nd Street\/USC Magnet<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n

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Kenzo Green, 4th grade \u2502 2024<\/h3>\n \n \n
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Andrea Estrada, 4th grade teacher – Kenzo – Coach Luca<\/p>\n

Alexander Science Center School<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n

\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \"USC\n\n \n \n \n \n\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n
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Jacob Castillo & Charles Anderson, 5th grade \u2502 2024<\/h3>\n \n \n
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Coach Luca – Jacob – Monique Mejia, 5th grade teacher<\/p>\n

(Charles was absent)<\/p>\n

Alexander Science Center School<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n

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Nicholas Moreno, 6th grade \u2502 2024<\/h3>\n \n \n
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Cathy Logan, Asst. Principal – Coach Arthur – Coach Luca – Nico – Rudy Becerra, 6-8 Math Teacher<\/p>\n

St. Vincent School<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n

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Gustavo Estrada, 7th grade \u2502 2024<\/h3>\n \n \n
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Kerry Kehrley, Principal – Gustavo – Coach Arthur – Coach Luca – Brandon Kenny, 7th grade teacher<\/p>\n

32nd Street\/USC Magnet<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n

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Gustavo Estrada, 6th grade \u2502 2023<\/h3>\n \n \n
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Coach Luca & Gustavo<\/p>\n

32nd Street\/USC Magnet<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n

\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \"USC\n\n \n \n \n \n\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n
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Elisa Cruz Alvizar & Daniel Gomez, 5th grade \u2502 2023<\/h3>\n \n \n
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Elisa – Coach Luca – Daniel<\/p>\n

Barbara Foster, 5th grade teacher<\/p>\n

Moore Academy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n

\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \"USC\n\n \n \n \n \n\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n
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Osias Maxie, 5th grade \u2502 2023<\/h3>\n \n \n
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Coach Luca – Osias – Krystal Kim-Fujishige, 5th grade teacher<\/p>\n

32nd Street\/USC Magnet<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n

\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \"USC\n\n \n \n \n \n\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n
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Nicholas Moreno, 5th grade \u2502 2023<\/h3>\n \n \n
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Coach Luca – Nico – Christine Cirillo, 5th grade teacher<\/p>\n

St. Vincent School<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n

\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \"USC\n\n \n \n \n \n\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n
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USC Chess Outreach Recognition Medal<\/h3>\n \n \n
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Coach Luca Johnson, Founder<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n

\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \"USC\n\n \n \n \n \n\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n \n\n <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":251,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1272","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nUSC Chess Outreach - Center for Active Learning in International Studies<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/calis\/student-initiatives-chess-outreach\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"USC Chess Outreach - Center for Active Learning in International Studies\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/calis\/student-initiatives-chess-outreach\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Center for Active Learning in International Studies\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-06-27T16:35:25+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/calis\/student-initiatives-chess-outreach\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/calis\/student-initiatives-chess-outreach\/\",\"name\":\"USC Chess Outreach - 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