Three MCPS students have been recognized in the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards 2021.
Derek Yan, a junior at Winston Churchill High School, was named a state honoree.
Yan started an organization designed to provide young tennis players with affordable training opportunities and an online network for finding practice partners. He organized a summer training camp on the public tennis courts of a local middle school. As more players expressed interest, the nonprofit organization grew into a community of more than 580 players who participate in year-round training programs at two indoor facilities and eight outdoor locations. In 2018, he partnered with the Alzheimer’s Association to launch an annual charity marathon that has raised more than $50,000 to support Alzheimer’s caregivers.
Distinguished finalists were Matthew Casertano and Dhruv Pai, juniors at Montgomery Blair High School. There were 102 middle and high school state honorees named from across the country. The awards honor students for making meaningful contributions to their community through volunteer service.
Each of the 102 state winners will receive a $2,500 scholarship, a silver medallion and an invitation to the virtual recognition ceremony in April, where 10 will be named America’s top youth volunteers of the year.
The full list of honorees is available here.
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