Three students are among the state finalists in the 2001 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program. Sponsored by the Prudential Insurance Company of America in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the awards program recognizes students in middle and high school grades who have demonstrated exemplary community service.

- Jared Joiner, a senior at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, created and taught the first session of the Rosemary Hills Lacrosse Camp, a project designed to involve more minority children in the predominantly white sport.

- Jeffrey Schiffman, a senior at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, created a computer camp to teach 10 underprivileged children how to use computers, and personally built 10 computers for the students to use and keep afterward.

- Yashar Pirzadeh, a senior at Springbrook High School, is student chairman of Reunited International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping reunite refugees separated from their families during times of crisis and war.