Everyone Wins in Wayne Manor's Chess Battles With Local Kids

Duke University junior Jesse Colvin is getting used to being beaten in games of chess by 10-year-olds ”not that he minds.

Colvin is a member of Wayne Manor, an all-male residential living group at Duke whose residents have became mentors to the fourth graders at Hillandale Elementary School.

The Duke students organize the school's chess, math, Spanish, art and science after-school clubs as well was run weekly recess activities. Although the enterprising chess masters from Hillandale's chess club do not always beat their Duke friends, Colvin said, "I think that both the kids and the college students win."

Junior Andrew Schmidt, the current student-leader of the Wayne Manor/Hillandale collaboration, said the after-school clubs are intended to get fourth graders excited about an academic field and to let them talk with an mentor who can advise them on academic and life issues.

Fourth grade teacher Gayle LeCroy said the program would not work without the Wayne Manor students. "I don't think I could find better young men to be mentors for these children."

Duke students started attending Friday recesses in the 1980s when Duke's football coach Barry Wilson initiated a program involving team members. When Wilson left Duke, the collaboration ended.

LeCroy then looked for students to carry on the Duke/Hillandale program. In 1995, members of Wayne Manor heeded the call.

"We decided that the Duke students could play more of a role in the children's lives, many of our children come from single parent homes and do not have positive male role models in their lives," LeCroy said.

Spanish club was added in 1996. Since 2000, Wayne Manor has expanded their participation from playing games at recess to hosting activities four days a week.

Not all Hillandale fourth graders participate in after-school clubs, but they do get to have fun with the Duke students during recess on Fridays. From 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., more than 20 Wayne Manor guys join Hillandale students to play games such as dodgeball, kickball, basketball and freeze tag. "Every Friday, I can't wait to see the Duke students from Wayne Manor," said fourth grader Halle.

"I feel like I have another family with the Duke students, these are people who show me they care about me," said fourth grader Quintavian.

The Duke students have fun as well. Sophomore Doug Keith said, "Duke doesn't really offer that many opportunities to argue about whether or not I was tagged during a high intensity game of freeze tag."

Strong relationships have been established, Keith said. "One of the 4th graders thinks that she is going to marry me. Every week she tries to get other Wayne Manor guys to come to the chapel for our wedding."

These kinds of programs have the potential to make a difference in young students' lives. Phyllis Blumenfeld, an expert at the University of Michigan School of Education who has worked extensively in the Detroit school system, said research has shown that after-school programs not only help the performance of students in school, but that mentorship can keep kids out of trouble after school.

Hillandale students continue to e-mail their "big brothers" after they leave Hillandale, LeCroy said.

The Durham community has recognized Wayne Manor's collaboration with Hillandale. The group won the Most Outstanding Volunteer Award in 2004 and Duke students Bobby Jones, Mike Colsher and Andrew Schmidt have won individual awards for volunteerism from DurhamCounty.

Hillandale is fortunate to have Wayne Manor LeCroy said. "I have seen so many young children whose lives are better because of the compassion shown by the guys from Wayne Manor."