JCPS Students Take Honors In National Chess Competition

Earlier this week, Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) Superintendent Dr. Donna Hargens announced that students from duPont Manual High School took honors in the recent U.S. Chess Federation 2016 National K-12 Grade Championships. Several students earned individual honors and two teams from Manual placed third in the overall competition.

“I am extremely proud of what our students accomplished and the manner in which they represented our JCPS family in their recent national competition,” Dr. Hargens said. “What our students accomplished is impressive, and I congratulate them on their victories.”

Team Awards:

• Third place – 12^th grade championship (Matthew McDonald, Keenan Bilyeu, Tommy Phan and Binu Godage)
• Third place – 10^th grade championship (Michael Harris, Will Workman, Ruchira Sumansekara, Vidu Godage and Jackson Murray)

Individual Awards – 12^th grade championship:

• Matthew McDonald – 10^th place overall
• Keenan Bilyeu – Second place<1400 Rating
• Binu Godage – Second place<1200 Rating
• Tommy Phan – Second place<1000 Rating

Individual Awards – 10^th grade championship

• Will Workman – First place<1400 Rating

The duPont Manual chess team has also won the state championship for three consecutive years and earned six titles since 2005.