News

Twenty Girls Chess Club members had the opportunity to tour Blue Origin in Research Park and learn about STEM careers there and see the manufacturing floor. This visit occurred on Friday March 3, 2023 and was led by Club For The Future ambassador, Larry Powell, at the Huntsville Engine Production facility and organized by Madison City Chess League Girls Chess Coordinator Cece Syarif.  

After introductions, the girls got down to business and challenged some of the engineers to a game of chess. They were impressed to learn that the employees are allowed to bring their dogs to work. That Friday schools were cancelled due to high winds and storms, so employees like Larry were also able to bring their kids to work since it was an E-Learning Day. That was a very family-friendly aspect of working at Blue Origin that impressed the visitors.

  

We were not allowed to take photos during our visit, but our host was able capture some action shots of the girls and the engineers going toe-to-toe. "All of the Blue Origin staff were friendly and welcoming, and I was impressed with their chess skills and how long some were able to hang in there against our competition chess players, some of whom are state and national champions," said Madison City Chess League President Ranae Bartlett.

Our girls chess club members ranged from 2nd grade to 12th grade. Registration for this free event for current MCCL members sold out in a few days after it was announced in our weekly newsletter. The girls who were able to make the visit attend ASFL, Columbia Elem, Madison Elem, Rainbow Elem, Discovery and Liberty Middle, and Bob Jones and James Clemens High Schools.

The longest games, however, were those by our middle and high school students Constance Wang, Rachael Ehrman and Shiloh Stringer. Well-played everyone! And thank you to Blue Origin for welcoming our chess players to your facility and providing each girl a Blue Origin bag and postcard to space!