Vanita Makes Us Proud

A Texas-sized cheer to chess whiz Vanita Young, who just nabbed herself a $40,000 scholarship to Texas Tech University, following her brilliant performance at this week's Susan Polgar Girls' [Chess] Invitational in Lubbock, TX.

GO, Vanita!

Readers of my column will recall that I wrote in June how Vanita, a rising senior at the Walter D. Palmer Charter School, beat out 600 other girls from Pennsylvania to represent the state at the annual invitational, named for Polgar, the world's first female chess grand master. Up for grabs was $120,000 worth of scholarships to the three top winners of the five-day competition, which was to be held July 24-29.

The tragedy was, Vanita couldn't afford the $2,000 it would cost to send her and a chaperone to the event. Vanita's background is heartbreaking, to say the least. Abandoned by her mom at age 2, orphaned by her dad's death in 2007, she lives with her grandparents and money is tight.  She uses chess (to which she was introduced by the After Schools Activities Partnership - ASAP) as a way to feel happy when the sadness of her circumstances overwhelm her.

When it looked like money owes would keep her from he Polgar tournament, Vanita's mentors at ASAP -  contacted me for help. I wrote Vanita's story and - no surprise, given the legendary generoity of Daily News readers - the money was raised within 24 hours.

U.S. Rep. Bob Brady kicked in the $2,000, and other big-hearted Samaritans ponied up over $1,600-plus. (The extra money went into a new fund to support the very active chess program at Vanita's high school, to help defray costs of tournament fees and travel to events.)

And this week in texas, Vanita did not disappointthose who believed in her enough to support her. Today, it was announced that she performed the ebst among girls in her age group - and that netted her a $40,000 scholarhsip to Texas Tech.  Vanita wnats very much to attend the school - to study compute rscience and continue playing chess under the mentorship of Polgar herself.

"We are thrilled," says Maria Walker, ASAP's executive director. "No one is more deserving than Vanita."

But without the kindness of Daily News readers, it's safe to say she never would've gotten on the plane to Texas.

Thanks, one and all. Vanita is on her way.