Virtual Hall of Fame Scholastic Chess Museum
Welcome to The Right Move Virtual Hall of Fame Scholastic Chess Museum. It is located in cyberspace so you can only visit us here on the web. It was founded in November 2007 by Brother John McManus, Scholastic advisor to the Eastern New York Chess Association, ENYCA (serving Eastern New York State and corresponding regions), and Vice President of the Right Move. For comments and suggestions, email brjohn@juno.com
| Herman Calderon, Giffen Coach, Parent, Mentor, Assistant Tournament Director, etc. has achieved the premier status in The Right Move Virtual Chess Hall of Fame Scholastic Chess Museum for his persistent top level promotion of scholastic chess since September, 2000. First coach in the Albany area to bring Giffen's Green collared uniform shirts to tournaments in the area, providing quick identity of his standout players. Photographer actively promoting all players and champions, he remains for all the awards, frequently even capturing faces as the champions try to escape the camera's eye. (Seconded by Rohan Graham (Giffen), Karen Merker (St. Joe's Kingston), Cinzia Cera (Montessori Magnet School, Albany). Presented May 20, 2009 at CBA Picnic. |
| November, 1972. A young chessplaying
physics teacher, Ken Evans, crystalized the fusion of past and future as he
organized the First Kingston Chess Championship. Thirty-six years later,
(2008) on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, his legacy continues in Chess
Clubs, Leagues, Schools and Tournaments as many benefit from his guiding
presence.
Earlier generations will remember his index cards sliding pairings into his wife Mary's home-sewn packets of the pairing charts. Her cheerful patterns still preside over the bags that collect the pieces after each of Ken's tournaments. Ken has been most influential teaching chess in clubs and schools, camps and wherever he can find a chess set and board. (He even painted the park tables!) Ken's nomination was seconded by John Fedor (Burke, Goshen), Tom Neppl (Newburgh FA), and Karen Merker (St. Joseph's, Kingston). |
| 1991. Karen Merker, Chess Coach of
the Mighty Pawns of St. Joseph's, has been working with chess in the
Kingston area for at least the last 17 years. For the past 15
years her Martin Luther King, Jr., Chess tournament has drawn large
reviews as people come from afar to celebrate "black and white together"
over a chessboard. She has even had to limit grade levels due to too
large a turnout for the facilities!!! Preparations begin early
each year as the day includes raffle prizes for all the players, as well
as most generous trophies and awards.
Many players from St. Joseph learn the game in the after school program. Her teams have won numerous awards, and her recruiting of parents and instructors for the players is a good model for all to follow. Karen's nomination was seconded by Ernie Johnson (Newburgh), John Fedor (Burke, Goshen), Herman Calderon (Giffen), and Ken Evans (Kingston) |
Coach of the Year 2010: ???
Player of the Year 2010: ???
Hall of Fame Inductee 2010: Tom & Sue Pacuk, Coxsackie (to be awarded at June Picnic at CBA, Albany)
Aaron, Deepak. Scholastic Player of the Year, 2007. Winner of the Schenectady Chess Club title in 2007, and also champion of six Right Move tournaments over the past year. As an eighth grader he has shown himself to be a fierce competitor, awesome at quick chess. For this he was chosen to be honored by his peers at the Second Annual Dinner held at Martel's in May 2007.(11/11/07) PS- Won NYS Scholastic Championshiphip 2009.
Carroll, Dan. Chess Coach of the Year 2007. Helped widen the spread of scholastic chess by bringing Menands School into the spectrum of places to play competitive chess. Organized and promoted scholastic chess at Menands School, and successfully hosted two scholastic chess tournaments there in the spring of 2007. (11/11/07)
Charlie Chen. Scholastic Player of the Year, 2008. This sixth grade student loves to play chess, and enjoys helping players on all levels. He won membership in the USCF for his commitment, dedication and help. He was elected to be honored at the First Annual Picnic, held at Christian Brothers Academy (CBA, Albany) on May 21, 2008.
Dr. Liz Gialanella. Ms. G, as she is sometimes known at Albany High, where she recently re-established her school as the best in the area, has a generous and gracious spirit that invites many high school players to participate and enjoy the royal game of chess. She has hosted three tournaments at Albany High, wherein the students run many activities and learn many skills (setting up and selling food to keep all the players happy, placing out materials for all, especially the younger children (Erecto blocks), and has sponsored several players into the USCF, where they can challenge their skills against many of the more established players in the area. (CBA, Albany, 5/20/2009).
Lee, Brendan. Scholastic Player of the Year, 2006. Coach, coordinator, player, and founder of the Shaker High School Chess Team. This twelfth grade student was the winner of many of The Right Move tournaments held during the year 2005 - 2006. Due to his attention, Shaker High School hosted a three-man team competition that helped get a dream league of three divisions under way. Brendan was the only player to beat Jennifer Shahade in the simul exhibition held in Washington Park in May 2006. He has been chosen to be honored by his peers at the First Annual Dinner at Maggie's Restaurant in May 2006.(11/11/07)
Naren Manoj. Scholastic Player of the Year, 2009. Naren (6th Grade) and his brother Pavan (1st Grade) came on the chess scene for the first time this year and eagerly thrived on the chess opportunities in the area. Naren gained a record 40 points in tournaments this scholastic year, and upon entering the USCF was able to garner a 962 rating by June of 2009! He is a credit to Glenmont, and played in several simuls against GM Ronan Har-Zvi. (5/20/09 CBA, Albany.) -moved to North Carolina. Good luck!
Valverde-Salas, Eduardo. Chess Coach of the Year 2006. Eduardo brought together many parents and players at Arbor Hill and School 16 into serious chess competition. His enthusiasm and instruction sparked many into animated levels of play. He was elected by popular vote of all the coaches and parents present at the First Annual Dinner at Maggie's Restaurant on Western Avenue in May, 2006. (11/11/07) ** <A fire caused the closing of Maggie's Restaurant the following year, so the dinner was moved to Martel's Restaurant at Capital Hills in 2007>
Zhang, Xiaoqing. Chess Coach of the Year 2008. Her efforts to gather the members of the Chinese Community Center, 11 Avis Drive, Latham, into the most powerful team of 15 young chess players in the area has worked marvelous things. Her secret is the family unit, which strongly supports educational ventures, and is highly visible at many tournaments in the area. The Chinese Community Center is open to all, offers the chance to learn Chinese as well as chess, and continues to reach out and serve the community at large. She was selected to be honored at the Chess Awards picnic held at Christian Brothers Academy on May 21, 2008.