| Date | 09/01/2026 |
|---|---|
| Teacher | Crelin, Scott |
| School | Martin County High School |
| Grade | 9-12 |
| Subject | Extracurricular |
| Goal | The goal of Tiger Gambit is to establish a welcoming and sustainable chess program at Martin County High School where students in grades 9–12 can learn, play, and grow through chess. We hope to provide students with quality chess sets and clocks that can be used year after year for casual play, instruction, strategy practice, puzzles, and organized club activities. As student interest grows, the club may also create opportunities for interscholastic matches and scholastic chess events. Ultimately, our goal is to build a program that gives students a strong sense of belonging while creating a new tradition at Martin County High School. |
| Description | Tiger Gambit is a new after-school chess club at Martin County High School designed for students of all experience levels. Complete beginners will have a place to learn the game, while experienced players will have opportunities to challenge one another, improve their strategies, solve puzzles, and develop their skills. The club will provide a positive and inclusive environment where students can spend time with peers who share their interests. Funding for this project will be used primarily to purchase durable tournament-style chess sets and digital chess clocks. Our current goal is to acquire approximately 20 complete chess sets and 10 clocks, allowing as many as 40 students to play at the same time. Because this equipment is reusable, this project will benefit MCHS students for many years. As the program develops, we also hope Tiger Gambit can eventually represent Martin County High School in friendly matches with other schools and scholastic chess events throughout the region. |
| Benefits | Chess provides students with an engaging way to practice critical thinking, problem solving, planning, concentration, patience, and decision-making. Just as importantly, Tiger Gambit will provide another opportunity for students to connect with their school community. Chess can appeal to students who may not participate in traditional athletics or other extracurricular activities, giving them a place to belong, make friends, and build confidence. Students will benefit from: • Increased critical-thinking and problem-solving skills • Practice with planning, strategy, and decision-making • Improved focus, patience, and perseverance • Positive social interaction and opportunities to make new friends • A welcoming extracurricular activity accessible to beginners and experienced players alike • Opportunities for leadership, mentoring, and friendly competition • The possibility of eventually representing MCHS in interscholastic and scholastic chess events A relatively small investment in reusable equipment can create an extracurricular program capable of serving students for many years. |
Items
| Title | Amount |
|---|---|
| 20 Tournament chess set combo (board + pieces + storage bag) | $440.00 |
| 10 Digital chess clocks | $350.00 |
| Storage bins / carrying totes | $70.00 |
| Score sheets, pencils, folders | $80.00 |
| 30 Club Polo Shirts | $900.00 |
| Total | $1,840.00 |
