I want to recognize a few people who have made a huge impact on Puddletown Chess. Our program is successful because of the time and energy our coaches and volunteers give to our students, and these individuals have gone above and beyond.
First, I wanted to recognize Vimal Adiraju. Vimal has been with us since the very beginning – 12 straight terms of coaching! He’s graduating from high school this year and going to UW for college, but he’s still coming back to teach this summer. That kind of dedication is something really special, and we’re incredibly thankful for everything he’s done.
Next is Prisha Aswal, our youngest ever coach when she started teaching. Prisha started with us back when she was just in 6th grade and has grown alongside the organization, teaching Level 1, then Level 2, and now Level 3. It’s been amazing to watch that journey and see her become such a great mentor for our students.
I’d also like to recognize Vedant Sharma. He became the first non-founder to serve as a tournament director for one of our events. He’s also one of my closest friends throughout this journey, and I’m grateful for everything he’s contributed.
Then we have Vedanth Yada. We met at a Telugu community event while talking about bringing chess to more students, and I was excited to find someone so eager to volunteer and help make that vision a reality. We were just looking for more students, but ended up with a wonderful coach and teammate. His enthusiasm and support have meant a lot to our team.
And finally, Ethan Tammar. Ethan has quietly put in countless hours grading homework over many terms and has become a regular at our Thursday night office hours. He’s always willing to help students learn and improve, and his consistency has made a real difference.
To all five of you: thank you for everything you’ve done for our students and for Puddletown Chess. You’ve helped create opportunities for young players to learn, grow, and enjoy the game, and we truly appreciate it.
Let’s give them ALL these role-models another huge round of applause, please!
