LOUISVILLE, Ky., July 27, 2012 — 1+1=U, Inc., a 501(c)3 organization that helps to further the education of young men and women beyond high school, announces its 3rd Annual Kentuckiana Post Secondary College Expo, a two-day event featuring Master Motivator and Mentor Orrin "Checkmate" Hudson.
The purpose of this event is to motivate junior high and high school students and expose them to colleges and other institutions, providing expanded educational and career options upon their graduation.
This year, 1+1=U is pleased to announce Orrin "Checkmate" Hudson, two-time World Open Speed chess champion, founder of Be Someone and author of One Move at a Time.
The seventh of 13 children, Hudson grew up in public housing in Birmingham, Ala., finding himself in and out of foster care. As a teenager, he was stealing tires and struggling in school until James Edge, his high school English teacher, taught Hudson the game of chess.
"With his help, I began to understand life through a chessboard. He showed me that every move you make has consequences and in order to improve my game and my life, I had to make better choices," says Hudson. "I slowly realized that I was responsible for my own success or failure."
Chess helped improve Hudson's focus – and helped him develop the analytical thinking skills needed to make the winning move. Hudson went on to win the Birmingham City Chess Championship in 1999, and again in 2000, despite being the lowest-ranking player in the tournament on both occasions.
The Expo will begin on Friday, August 24th with a workshop provided by Hudson, teaching students how to play chess and make the right moves and decisions in life. He will demonstrate to students how the game of chess relates to real-life situations, and how it helped to improve his focus and helped him develop analytical thinking skills.
Hudson will open the College Expo on Saturday, August 25th with his story of how education and chess made a difference in his life. Afterwards, students will participate in various workshops ranging from ACT Preparation, Paying for College and Qualifying for the Collegiate Clearinghouse, among others.
A number of colleges, universities and other post secondary institutions will exhibit during Saturday's event, giving students the opportunity to meet and network with recruiters.
New this year, as students participate in their sessions on Saturday, parents and teachers can now attend a workshop facilitated by Hudson. "The purpose is to teach parents and teachers how to communicate and deal with troubled children, especially our young black men," said 1+1=U Founder and Educator Margaret Demaree.
The two-day college expo takes place at Central High School in Louisville, Ky. beginning on Friday, August 24th at 5 pm and continuing on Saturday, August 25th from 10 am – 2 pm. There is no charge to attend and the event is open to the public, but pre-registration is required for students who wish to attend workshops.
A complete list of workshops will be available on the 1+1=U website during the month of July. For questions, please contact Margaret Demaree at 502-500-0433. To confirm participation or for media inquiries, please contact Shaun Lockhart at 502-974-2512.
For more information about 1+1=U, Inc., please visit www.1plus1equalsu.com. For more information about Be Someone and Orrin "Checkmate" Hudson, please visit www.besomeone.org.
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