The final bell rings at ALHS and students immediately rush out of class.  Most students race to the parking lot overwhelmed with joy that it is finally Friday.  When the halls have cleared, a faint noise can be heard in the corner of the second floor E-house. As you walk closer to the noise, you realize it’s music and laughter.
The source of festivities is the Albert Lea High School Chess Club.  The Chess Club meets every Friday in Mr. Corey-Gruenes’s room after school.
“I like the fact that we can all just chill and play chess,” said sophomore Elizabeth Ogunkanbi, a participant in the chess club.
Although known as a club, it is technically an after-school activity.  The reason for this is because it is free of charge to participate.
The program was started though the Gifted and Talented Program.  Mr. Corey-Gruenes was asked to hold the activity once a week after school.  There was also help from students to get the program up and running.  Scott Grzybowski showed a great amount of interest and talked to a member of the Gifted and Talented Program.
ALHS’s Chess Club does have potential to become a paid-for school activity.  If enough students are interested the Chess Club its members could participate in competitions.
As of now there is no formal lessons on the strategy of chess going on in the Chess Club.  Since it isn’t an actual club yet there is no coach, rather the students learn new strategies and tricks from their fellow chess players.
“I like how we attract an interesting variety of people,” said Mr. Corey-Gruenes.
Some of the chess players are experienced, while for others it may be their first time playing.  Even teachers drop in occasionally to see what is going on.
“Chess is a strategy game that is a struggle of the intellectuals,” Ogunkanbi said.
Students attend the Chess Club to socialize and compete with each other in a game of strategy.  With a wide variety of personalities and a fun atmosphere, almost anyone would feel comfortable attending this after-school activity.  Although the Chess  Club isn’t technically a club, it shows a promising future at ALHS.