Three area teenagers have received awards from the city Human Rights Commission in various ceremonies over the past few weeks, the last of which is scheduled to take place during the Rye City Council’s regular meeting on Wednesday night.
Rye Neck High School junior Ashley Hernandez and Rye High School senior Kaylie Nakamura are this year’s award recipients – as well as Rye High senior Ben Fritsche, who served as the first-ever student representative to the commission.
The city’s Human Rights Commission is dedicated to fostering respect and understanding among all racial, religious, and nationality groups. The commission inquires about incidents of tension and conflict among various groups and aims to alleviate and deescalate such situations.
The awards are solicited based on community nominations. Human Rights Commission Chair Rita Capek told The Record the commission doesn’t typically set out to select multiple students – unless a few work together on the same project – but over the years she’s received excellent nominations from both Rye City schools and Rye Neck schools.
“We don’t typically go into it with a priority to select multiple students, but the nominations the last few years have been wonderful,” she said.
For this year’s honors – awarding work from the 2024-2025 academic year – Capek said it was hard narrowing it down. The students the commission ultimately chose, she said, displayed impressive levels of leadership, organization and motivation.
“Many of them draw inspiration from a personal place and it is impactful to see how they act on it,” she said.
Hernandez was a standout nomination because of her work over the past two years to promote the rights, dignity, and empowerment of the Hispanic community in Westchester – which represents about 27 percent of the county’s population.
The Rye Neck student created a Hispanic Club at her high school, which is helping newly-enrolled Hispanic students feel a connection to the school and greater community. Hernandez has also collaborated with politicians to discuss issues important to Westchester’s Hispanic community, volunteered with myriad nonprofits, and even organized a baby essentials donation campaign for Hispanic families.
“Ashley is truly a force of positive change and leads by example to foster inclusion in our schools and community,” Capek said.
Hernandez is also a Rye Neck student athlete and a member of multiple school organizations – including the National Honor, Math & Science Societies, Student Senate, Environmental Club, Rye Neck High School Theatre, and STEM & Art Clubs.
Nakamura, the Rye High senior, received the honor for her work uplifting families affected by cancer.
She began her work after her father Kuni Nakamura died of pancreatic cancer in 2023 when he was just 55 years old. After his death, Nakamura “transformed her grief into action” by forming a team for the Soul Ryeders Half Marathon & 5K – a run and fundraiser for the Soul Ryeders organization, which supports those affected by cancer diagnosis.
Nakamura’s team – called “Carpe Diem,” one of the philosophies her father instilled in her – raised an “astonishing” $18,242 in its first year in 2024, and another $24,000 this year. The most recent amount totaled about 25 percent of all the funds raised in this year’s race, and is enough to provide 10 cancer patients and caregivers with a full year of Soul Ryeder services, according to the Human Rights Commission.
“Kaylie’s ability to organize such a significant project while navigating her own loss demonstrates an exceptional compassionate spirit and dedication to others,” Capek said. “We are recognizing her for her dedication to providing the right to health encompassing physical, mental and social well being for those battling cancer.”
Fritsche, the inaugural student representative to the city’s Human Rights Commission, also received an honorable mention this year.
“Throughout your time with us, your thoughtful perspectives and commitment to human rights enriched our discussions, helping not just the commission, but our community, connect with a younger generation in a meaningful way,” Capek said. “You’ve established a remarkable benchmark for those that follow and are thankful for your spirit and dedication.”
The trio will be honored at the beginning of the June 11 Rye City Council meeting, which begins at City Hall at 6:30 p.m.
Update: This article was updated on June 11 to include additional comments from Rita Capek, and clarify that the commission inquires about incidents of tension.
