Alumni Spotlight: Jameson Fennimore ‘24
Meet Jameson Fennimore '24, a 7th Grader at Harvard-Westlake School, whose passion for chess helped shape Curtis School's competitive chess team.
When Jameson moved to California from New York City and started at Curtis as a 4th Grader, he was surprised to learn that the school didn’t have a competitive chess team. As the only student at Curtis with a US Chess Federation (USCF) ranking at the time, he wanted more opportunities to play and compete. While Curtis had chess extension classes, there was no official team that competed in tournaments. Jameson was determined to change that.
He brought his proposal to Ginger Healy, Director of Grades 3-5, in the form of a slideshow outlining his vision. With approval secured, Jameson and his mother found a coach through a chess website, Coach Nick Pedretti, who remains the team’s dedicated coach. The next challenge was building a team and finding a regular meeting space. Jameson and his teammates, Leo H. ‘25 and Connor H. ’25, successfully advocated for a trial program, and the effort kicked off in the Tuttle Building after school every Wednesday. Over time, interest grew, and by Jameson’s 6th Grade year, the Curtis Chess Team had more than 30 members across two divisions.
He brought his proposal to Ginger Healy, Director of Grades 3-5, in the form of a slideshow outlining his vision. With approval secured, Jameson and his mother found a coach through a chess website, Coach Nick Pedretti, who remains the team’s dedicated coach. The next challenge was building a team and finding a regular meeting space. Jameson and his teammates, Leo H. ‘25 and Connor H. ’25, successfully advocated for a trial program, and the effort kicked off in the Tuttle Building after school every Wednesday. Over time, interest grew, and by Jameson’s 6th Grade year, the Curtis Chess Team had more than 30 members across two divisions.
Jameson’s younger brother, Logan, was just in Kindergarten when the team was formed, and he quickly became a passionate player. Now in 3rd Grade, Logan is an excellent competitor, thanks partly to the team’s support. Jameson and Logan’s parents played an instrumental role in getting the fledgling club off the ground, helping organize meetings, coordinating logistics, and ensuring that the team had everything it needed, including pizza and sandwiches for those long after-school chess sessions.
One of Jameson’s proudest moments was seeing the team’s official t-shirts printed, something that made the chess team feel truly established. Hosting the competitive team's first chess tournament in January 2025, which welcomed over 50 attendees, was another highlight.
Beyond chess, Jameson cherishes memories of Curtis’s International Lunch Day, where he shared chouquettes, a favorite French pastry, with friends. He credits Curtis’s rigorous 6th Grade structure and overnight trips for preparing him well for middle school. His advice for students looking to start their own club or team? Patience, tenacity—and, of course, good snacks. Thanks to Jameson’s passion, the Curtis Chess Team continues to thrive, introducing new students to the game he loves.
