This report documents the Chess Queens Girls Mentoring Initiative, a program run by the National Scholastic Chess Foundation and the Sunrise Center for Excellence in Chess in South Florida.
The program originally launched in 2019 with 12 girls but was suspended due to COVID-19 in March 2020. It restarted in fall 2022 with an $8,500 grant from the US Chess Women’s Committee, matched by local funding. Over two school years (2022-23 and 2023-24), the program held 23 sessions serving 38 girls from upper elementary through middle school.
Led by Women’s FIDE Master Dr. Amelia Hernandez (Gold Medalist in the 1994 Olympiad in Moscow and a multiple-time Venezuelan National Champion ), the program combined chess instruction with mentoring and social development. Girls participated in biweekly sessions, free local tournaments, and community chess events throughout South Florida.
Notable Achievements:
- One student, Brooke Kelly, tied for first place at the 2024 Florida State Girls Chess Championship
- Several participants have joined US Chess and competed in rated tournaments
- A former program graduate, McKhaila McKenzie, returned to the program as an assistant coach and mentor
The program emphasized building confidence, STEM career interest, and creating a supportive environment for girls in the male-dominated chess world, with strong support from participating families and the City of Sunrise. Read the full report here.
