Check... mate... Challenge!

On Monday, October 2, our Upper School Entrepreneurship students traveled to The Marshall Chess Club in NYC to meet with Russell Makofsky (below), entrepreneur and innovative leader in the global chess community.

Our visit was memorable and moving! Accompanied by teachers Daniel Mendel and Molly Foresta, students played chess, learned the history of The Marshall (one of the most iconic and historic chess clubs in the United States), and toured the local Greenwich Village chess scene. (View more photos on our Flickr page.)

After learning more about Russell's personal and professional journey as an entrepreneur, Russell engaged our students on a business challenge he is currently experiencing around fundraising for his non-profit The Gift of Chess.

In teams, students will spend the next month conducting research and fieldwork, ideating, prototyping, and testing their creative solutions.  Entrepreneurial Studies is open to all Upper schoolers and presents a unique model of both teaching and learning. Students are empowered to think and create collaboratively in small groups, fairly unassisted by their teachers, who act more as facilitators and guides. For student Teddy Kenny, the prospect of affecting change within the organization of The Gift of Chess is inspiring.  “I think what surprised me most is that Russ entrusted us with such a big and important responsibility. I’m really excited to be a part of something so meaningful,” Teddy shared.

Later next month, we will host Russell on campus for student-led presentations where teams will share their findings and pitch Rusell on implementation. Dates for the event, which will be open to the community, are soon to be announced. 

Photography by Margaret Pegno/Friends Academy