Student Hero: Gisele Motley Finds Leadership And Focus Through Chess

DETROIT (WWJ) - One Detroit middle school student has taken the chess world by storm.

Twelve-year-old Gisele Motley -- student at University Prep Science and Math Middle School in Detroit--- spoke about her strategy en route to winning back-to-back women's division state championships, as well a national championship while apart of the Chrysler Elementary team.

"My strategy is play what I know best -- that's E4 and Knight F3 -- those two moves," Motley said. "I just really like the game and I know it can help me out with life, like strategical things and it's just a good way to learn to be patient and time yourself, and you get to know how people think."

Motley, who has only been a member of the Detroit City Chess Club for three years, is coached by Kevin Fite, who owns an impressive resume himself -- earning nine national championships and 21 state crowns in 14 years as a coach -- but surprisingly said he has never competed competitively.

"I've never played in a tournament in my life," Fite said. "I train students to play in tournaments, and when I saw what chess does for students I just fell in love with it and I've been running with it ever since."

Fite, who founded the club and introduced Motley to the game while at Chrysler Elementary, said that he is not surprised that Motley is succeeding.

"Gisele is a natural-born leader," Fite said. "[She gets] high grades, she's a perfectionist, she works hard, she's a very good example for all of her teammates who come in contact with her -- she's just marvelous."

What chess does, according to Fite, is help kids focus their energy and attention to their studies, where Motley has a 4.0 GPA. It also encourages students to dream big, and Motley said there is still one goal she is chasing.

"As of right now, one of my goals is to be the first African-American female master," Motley said. "Chess is a year-round sport. we study all year long for Nationals and then for more tournaments after that. Grand Masters, they study for hours and hours on end each day. So, if you want to become a Grand Master, then you have to work like a Grand Master."

Congratulations Gisele Motley, you're truly a student hero!

WWJ Newsradio 950 will run a weekly Student Hero feature. If you know someone who could be labeled a student hero and would like to nominate them for consideration, email us at wwjnewsradio@gmail.com.