The Encinitas Chamber of Commerce, which aims to improve the well-being of the local community through business advocacy, awarded Aaron Nayki (12) with the October Rising Star award on Oct. 1.

The Rising Star Award recognizes students in the district who show commitment to their education and community. Nayki received this award for his leadership and extensive involvement as president of the school’s Peer Tutoring Club.

“I’ve been [in Peer Tutoring Club] since freshman year, and I’m currently the President,” Nayki said. “I have helped [it] become this club where students can go [ask] questions about anything they may have … or if they just want a place to reside, to get their work done, they can go there.”

As president, Nayki expanded the club and made it more accessible.

“The biggest thing is getting more students,” Nayki said. “So I implemented a lot of different things, like creating a Peer Tutoring website … I’ve also reached out to the Parent Foundation to get some more donations to help build the Peer Tutoring Room.”

Additionally, Nayki brought the skills he learned in Peer Tutoring outside the club.

“I got the opportunity to be a teacher’s assistant for a pilot Integrated Math 1 class for ESL (English as a second language) kids,” Nayki said. “So [I’m] helping kids who may have been refugees from Afghanistan or Mexico and need help with math.”

Nayki’s contributions to the community help him “grow to have compassion for others.” 

“Teaching has taught me how to be patient with others, how to be resilient and how to learn better,” Nayki said. “It taught me how to collaborate with others.”

Nayki’s peers note his dedication to making a difference.

“[Nayki] has been one of the greatest doers of the community,” Jervis Fernandes (12), said. “He manages to make every single person feel heard and comfortable and make the transition into a new environment very easy so that everyone can succeed.”

Nayki received a nomination for the award from Guen Butler, the Multilingual Learner Program Lead, who saw firsthand Nayki’s development as a leader and mentor.

“[Nayki] impacted the community in lots of positive ways,” Butler said. “He is really dedicated to helping other students and really making Peer Tutoring [a] place where … you don’t have to feel weird if you need help.”

Butler praised Nayki for going above and beyond to support other students.

“Any way he can think of to help other kids do well in school, he’s doing [it],” Butler said.