ABOUT
In 2019, a group of dedicated high school students at Saratoga High School (SHS) — located in the Bay Area — founded a student-led club called Aspiring to Create English (ACE).
Our organization's goal is to provide opportunities for students in need to enhance their English reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Over the school year, we connect tutors from SHS with students outside of the United States to improve their English while educating them about American culture and lifestyle. In the summer of 2020, we expanded worldwide with English panels over Zoom to discuss topics, such as culture, mental health, and environmental awareness, that are prevalent not only in the U.S., but all over the world.
The idea of the club originated from founder Anthony Qin's personal experiences in Yunnan, a rural province in China, where he taught underprivileged students English over a 10-day period. He witnessed first-hand the background of poverty the students came from and education's role in helping them succeed. Upon returning home, he established ACE in hopes of aiding students like those in Yunnan who need experienced English tutors to help them learn the universal language.
CURRENT TEAM 2022-2023
Carolyn Wang
PRESIDENT
Hi! I’m Carolyn Wang, a senior at Saratoga High, and I'm super excited to lead ACE this year. Previously, I was the Outreach Head between 2021-22 and co-founded the Middle Eastern Tutoring Branch of ACE in my sophomore year, recruiting student-tutor pairs via the Paper Airplanes Student Exchange Program. I have also tutored high school and college students in Jordan and Palestine. Connect with me at www.carolynwang.co.
Jenny Chan
TREASURER
I'm Jenny Chan, the co-founder of the Middle East Culture & Tutoring Club and the previous Secretary for ACE in 2021-2022. I entered ACE to encourage self-expression and international communication. This year, I will be leading fundraisers, and advising on financial strategies.
Nithya Krishna
VICE PRESIDENT
Hi, I’m Nithya Krishna, ACE’s current vice president. I’m a senior at Saratoga High School and co-founded the Middle East Tutoring Branch of ACE and have previous tutoring experience in the Middle East. I’m looking forward to a great year with ACE!
Anais Sobrier
OUTREACH
Hi! I'm Anais. I joined ACE in 2020 as a freshman wanting to teach English and to meet someone new. As of 2022, I have worked with students from India, Palestine, and Japan through ACE and other organizations. I'm interested in languages and international relations, so ACE provides incredible opportunities for me. I am responsible for connecting and helping new students and tutors, as well as French translations.
Tara Natarajan
SECRETARY
Hi! I'm Tara, and I'm a junior. I love traveling, reading, and expanding my cultural horizons. I'm the secretary this year and am responsible for keeping track of meeting logistics, attendance, and communication. I'm originally from India, and this multinational background has inspired my tutoring journey. I look forward to a great year with all of you!
Grace Liu
CO-OUTREACH
Hello! I am Grace Liu, a sophomore at Saratoga High. I joined ACE club last year to be able to use the skills I have to help others and learn more from cultures all around the world. Since joining, I have had the opportunity of tutoring students from China and Japan, and I am incredibly grateful to serve as an officer this year. As co-outreach, I will be creating advertisements for ACE and improving communication between club members.
Jason Liu
CO-TREASURER
Hi, I'm Jason Liu. I'm a senior at Saratoga High and the treasurer of the ACE club. I've been with ACE for my past three years in high school and have tutored many students abroad, both from Japan and China. I love teaching students, socializing with students abroad, and being able to take advantage of my Chinese skills to help other high school students learn English.
PUBLIC FEATURES
The Saratoga Falcon, Saratoga High School's Newspaper
https://www.saratogafalcon.org/content/ace-club-tutors-chinese-students-through-online-meetings
Noteworthy, Saratoga High School's 2020 Yearbook
