MEAGAN CLEMENTS | staff writer

Art, science and mental aerobics are three words that come to mind when senior vocal performance and business administration major Andrew Svehaug describes the game of chess.

From an early age Svehaug dedicated himself to the passionate pursuit of chess.

“My dad taught me how to play when I was in kindergarten,” Svehaug said.

Hailing from Vancouver, Wash, Svehaug practiced an average of 14 hours a week, reading books and playing chess online.

Svehaug began playing tournaments in the fourth grade and went on to win his first championship in seventh grade. He won his first national championship in high school.

Svehaug, who is also a gifted singer, believes the key to growth in life is not focusing on all of your talents at once but rather one at a time.

“One of the ways I was really able to grow in chess [was] by focusing on the game,” Svehaug said.

As his passion for playing the game grew, so did his passion for teaching. Svehaug started teaching five days a week at Foothill Christian in Glendora and ran after-school programs intending to inspire children with his passion for chess.

He founded the American Chess Institute (ACI) in hopes that more students could be reached and introduced to the game.

With a desire to sustain several of the after-school programs already formed, Svehaug selected and trained additional chess players to become a part of his company, the American Chess Institute and share in the joy of teaching elementary school students. Currently, Svehaug teaches four days a week at Foothill Christian, Western Christian and Upland Christian.

“I go in there on a mission,” Svehaug said. “[I tell them], ‘we’re going to have fun, but we’re going to be focused and really learn a lot.”

Svehaug also travels frequently to Santa Barbara to help organize chess workshops.

“When he comes to do a workshop, [my kids] are singing and dancing all around the house; they’re so excited he’s coming,” Ann Van Fossen, (mother to John Stephen (10), Daniel (7) and Nathaniel (4)) said. “He’s a hero and somebody all grown up that they can aspire to be like.”

Svehaug believes education is crucial to society. Chess is required school curriculum in 25 countries.

“The patterns between chess and math are phenomenal,” Svehaug said. “You have to visualize and think ahead. [Chess] enhances your capability to sit down and do math problems.”

In addition, Svehaug believes that chess can help students of all ages learn about time management and aid them in developing proper study and test-taking skills.
“We’re learning time management with my kindergarten/first grade class [right now,]” Svehaug said.

In his own life Svehaug splits his time between chess, basketball, practicing singing and producing music festivals.

Svehaug feels that most of his students’ growth happens in between classes, so he encourages them to practice 30-60 minutes a day. Svehaug has taught children as young as 3 years old how to play chess.

“If you teach them right, they’re like sponges at that age and they can just soak it up,” Svehaug said.

He says learning the basics is simple, but understanding strategy is crucial.

“A lot of people have difficulty with chess when they come in with expectations,” Svehaug said.

Svehaug believes chess is not a game of chance, but a game of strategy and can help with cognitive brain function and everyday life.