Chess Grandmaster to Address Spring 2007 Commencement Class

The queen of chess to explain the rules of life to graduating students.

Written by Cory Chandler

Susan Polgar, is the top-ranked chess player in the United States.

Grandmaster Susan Polgar, four-time womens’ world chess champion and five-time Olympic chess champion, will speak at two Texas Tech University undergraduate commencement ceremonies Saturday (May 12).

More than 2,570 students will receive diplomas during the functions, slated for 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the United Spirit Arena, 1701 Indiana Ave. in Lubbock.

The morning ceremony will include students from the Colleges of Architecture, Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Honors and Visual and Performing Arts. The afternoon observance includes the Colleges of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Education, Human Sciences, Mass Communications and the Jerry S. Rawls College of Business Administration.

Polgar boasts an extensive list of chess accomplishments, including being the only person in history – male or female – to win the Triple Crown, comprised of Rapid, Blitz and Classical world championships. She currently is the top-ranked player in the United States and was the first woman to earn the men’s Grandmaster title.

She also is founder of the Susan Polgar Foundation, a non-profit organization to promote chess for young people throughout the U.S. and is sponsor and organizer of the annual Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls Championship, Susan Polgar World Open Chess Championship for Girls and Susan Polgar National Open Chess Championship for Girls.

John W. Ryan is president emeritus of Indiana University.

John W. Ryan, president emeritus of Indiana University, will speak to 455 graduate students at a separate commencement ceremony taking place at 4 p.m. Friday (May 11) at the United Spirit Arena.

Ryan was president of Indiana University from 1971 to 1987. From 1996 to 1999, he was interim chancellor and chancellor of the State University of New York; and also has served as interim president at the University of Maryland at Baltimore and Florida Atlantic University.

Greg Abbott is the attorney general of Texas.

Attorney General Greg Abbott will speak to 205 students at the School of Law hooding ceremony, taking place at 6 p.m. School of Law Hooding Ceremonies will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday (May 12) at the United Spirit Arena. A reception at the Frazier Alumni Pavilion will immediately follow the ceremony.

Abbott was reelected as the 50th Attorney General of Texas on November 7, 2006. Prior to his election as attorney general, Abbott served as a Justice on the Texas Supreme Court and as a State District Judge in Harris County. In his capacity as the state’s lawyer, Abbott oversees nearly 700 attorneys who represent the State of Texas.

For more information, visit the Graduation Web site.