In Spring 2010, three UA student volunteers working in Tuscaloosa Magnet Elementary School had the idea that by teaching children chess, they can change lives. They began with 12 sixth graders.

The program that evolved from that idea, Every Move Counts, is an initiative of the Center for Ethics & Social Responsibility that provides UA students with the opportunity to teach chess to children from four local schools while receiving class credit.

The program now consists of 37 UA students and approximately 220 children from Tuscaloosa Magnet Elementary, Tuscaloosa Magnet Middle, Oak Hill Middle and High School and Alberta Elementary.

Still, individuals spearheading the project hope for future expansion.

“It’s grown pretty rapidly, so we probably are at capacity for a while. We want to get everything settled in Alberta and hope to expand more in the future, hopefully to a high school,” said Amy Buchanan, one of the project’s coordinators.

The program begins with second-grade students and encourages children to continue with the game throughout their education. Students from UH 333 and UH 400 are paired with children with similar skill levels in order to coach and mentor during the school day and in after school programs.

Olivia Grider, another program coordinator, spoke out on the benefits for the children involved.

“For the kids, research shows that this improves standardized test scores in both Math and English, basically it improves all critical and analytical skills as well as the ability to focus. So overall, it helps the kids improve in all facets,” Grider said.

The afterschool program provides students with more advanced skill levels an opportunity to further grow in their abilities. Select students from the advanced group will be participating in a local chess tournament by another non-profit, Freedom Chess Academy.

Every Move Counts collaborates with Freedom Chess Academy each year to host two separate local events.

This year, Every Move Counts is scheduled to have a Chess Festival on April 4 at Tuscaloosa Magnet Elementary during the school day.

Students from each grade will be provided an opportunity to participate in various chess related games including speed chess, and chess simuli, a game in which an instructor plays multiple students simultaneously.

Jason Earley, a marketing major, is one of 12 students who have chosen to stay with the program for two semesters. Earley said the program provides students with an opportunity to gain credit hours, while also having moral rewards.

“Not only is it honors credit, but I also enjoy working with the children,” said Earley.

The program’s success is expected to grow in the upcoming years. Grider attributes this success to the obvious benefit the program provides UA students and children from local schools.

“They aren’t just teaching them a game, they are teaching them skills for life,” said Grider.