Chess in the Schools’ College Bound Program empowers students from all backgrounds to achieve their aspirations, whether it’s securing their first part-time job, exploring new states, or gaining admission to college. With a consistent 100% college acceptance rate for several years, College Bound is a steadfast support for its students.

But getting into college is just the first step. The real challenge for many students is staying in college and making it to graduation. That’s where our College Success Program comes in.

Launched in 2021, the College Success Program helps students navigate college life, from renewing FAFSA and transferring schools to building networks through workshops and events. At its core, the program is about alumni supporting alumni through a strong, welcoming community.

What makes the College Success Program so effective is the leadership of our Peer Coaches. These coaches are current college students and CIS alumni who understand the ups and downs of the college journey. Many already have personal connections with students in the program, so when someone needs help, they know exactly who to turn to. It works because it’s personal, community-driven, and built on shared experience.

As we say goodbye to last year’s Peer Coaches, Marcus Sutton and Marilyn Lucero, we are excited to welcome the new team joining our mission of supporting alumni. Angel Chen, a sophomore at Stony Brook University, and Partho Nath, a senior at Binghamton University, will be stepping into their new roles, alongside returning Peer Coach Ifaz Howlader, a senior at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Angel is joining the Peer Coach team for the first time. With both excitement and a sense of responsibility, she sat down with us to reflect on what this opportunity means to her, and what she hopes to bring to the College Success community.

How does it feel to be a Peer Coach?

I’m super excited to be a Peer Coach! Being a Peer Coach allows me to meet and help other alumni that I haven’t interacted with before. Planning events for alumni, whether it’s for professional development or fun community-building activities, is a wonderful experience.

What challenges do you think you might face in this role?

I’m aware that different mentees have varied goals and ways that they receive and seek advice, so understanding whether a mentee wants emotional support, advice, or both is important and can be challenging. Another challenge I think I will face is time conflicts because when I am free, a mentee might be too busy to respond or catch up with me.

In what ways do you think being a Peer Coach will help you grow personally or professionally?

I am somewhat introverted, but being a Peer Coach requires me to reach out and meet many different people. From connecting with other alumni, I can improve my social skills, public speaking skills, and learn more about their experiences. Being a Peer Coach also allows me to grow professionally because I gain time management, problem solving, and decision making skills from organizing events.

What do you hope to contribute to the College Success Program?

I hope to provide as much advice to my alumni, whether that’s helping them with interview prep, refining their resumes, or navigating the challenges of college life. From personal experience, I understand freshman year is a crucial year to make friends, join clubs, and adjust to a new, unfamiliar environment, so I will especially try to support rising freshmen to the best of my abilities. I also hope to connect more alumni with each other through the many events we have in the coming year. 

How has being a Peer Coach helped you feel more connected to the alumni community?

The Squid Game event I hosted with Peer Coach Partho recently allowed me to meet some new faces and names. Previous events I have attended, like the Bank of America event, also gave me the opportunity to converse with more alumni. Throughout the upcoming semesters, I will continue to strengthen my connections by learning more about each alumni’s college journey.

What do you think is the most important part of being a Peer Coach?

I think the most important aspect of being a Peer Coach is addressing alumni concerns and transitions throughout college. Helping alumni navigate college, offering support and guidance when they face difficulties, and consistently being there for them is a rewarding and meaningful process.

What made you want to become a Peer Coach?

Initially, I wanted to become a Peer Coach because I knew many of the incoming college freshmen and wanted to guide them through their freshman year. My goals quickly expanded after sessions of training and hosting my first event. I realized that being a Peer Coach is far more impactful and also involves assisting alumni through their transfer process, financial aid package or appeal, and career development.

A few words from our Peer Coaches:

A few words from new coach, Partho Nath:

“Joining Chess in the Schools as a peer coach means that I will be able to share my wisdom and guide my peers throughout their college journey. I am really excited about still maintaining a connection with chess in the schools. I am also really excited about keeping the Chess In The Schools community together and letting alums know that Chess in the Schools is still there for them even after they graduate!”

A few words from veteran coach, Ifaz Howlader:

“Participating in the College Success Program and being a Peer Coach I enjoy reminding people that Chess in the Schools is still home. I love carrying that same energy from back in the College Bound Program into my Peer Coach work because every time I interact with people in the alumni program I’m constantly reminded why Chess in the Schools was so monumental when I was in high school, and it was the people, whether they’d been driven, competitive, or hilarious. I look forward to a year where we can make our alumni feel that essence of home they once felt when they participated in Chess in the School’s College Bound Program”.

A few words from former coach, Marilyn Lucero:

“I was one of the first Peer Coaches, and when I think about how much time and heart my peers and I have poured into this program, and how much we’ve helped shape it, I feel incredibly proud. The College Success Program reminds me that Chess in the Schools will always be there for us, like a beacon in tough times or simply when we need someone to talk to. Through this experience, I’ve gained so much, not just technical skills, but a deeper understanding of what it means to support and be present for a community I truly care about”.

A few words from former coach, Marcus Sutton:

“The College Success Program was an additional opportunity to stay connected to the CIS program and all of my friends once we went off to college. In attending a college in a whole different state, I felt like it would be harder to stay in touch, but it made things way easier. The program launched in my first year of college, so I was lucky enough to have access to continued connection and programming as soon as I started college. So, when the opportunity to be a Peer Coach came along, I wanted to sign up so I could be part of the team of people who help to maintain that connection and feel supported through college. As a Peer Coach, I got to meet and get to know CB alumni more deeply, and provide them with the same guidance I once needed. It’s truly been my opportunity to give back and keep developing the community. Most importantly, it’s really helped me determine that whatever I do in the future should revolve around working with people directly because that’s what gives me joy”.