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For Alyssa Strykers, senior year at Manhattan's High School for Environmental Studies meant more than deciding on what college to go and graduating at the top of her class. She decided to take on a new challenge and join the cross country team.

"When she was approached, as in, 'We need more girls for this team,' she was like, 'Absolutely I'll help. I can't be there for all the practices and meets but I will help as much as I can,'" says varsity cross country coach Georgia DeFalco. "And she wasn't just dead weight, she would definitely place in the top five of our girls' team, which was pretty amazing."

Strykers spent the last four years on her school's soccer team - a sport she picked up later than most of her teammates after a friend's team needed an extra player.

"I would go to her practices and just do my homework on the sidelines and she would play and we would go home after," says Strykers. "One day, they didn't have enough people and they were like, 'Come play, come join us,' and I started playing. And I got home and I was like, 'Mom, I think I want to join soccer.'"

Strykers's enthusiasm and dedication to the sport lead her to a spot on the varsity's soccer team as a freshman.

"Alyssa has always dedicated 100 percent commitment to the team. she is there at every practice she is at every game and she is a leader on the team," says varsity soccer coach Marissa Bellino. "So being a student athlete is a real big challenge here at school. She's involved in honors classes and AP classes and to keep her grades up, it's a lot of work."

Strykers is captain of her soccer team as well as a member of the National Honor Society. She credits athletics as one the reasons she has been such a successful student.

"It keeps me focused with my academics, because having exercise and stuff my brain is more awake," says Strykers.

Strykers will be attending Davidson College in North Carolina as an anthropology major. After graduating she hopes to combine two of her passions - traveling and charity work.

"After undergrad, if I graduate in four years I want to do the Peace Corps for two, because I want to travel and I want to help people," says Strykers.

So, for her commitment to her team and her commitment to helping others, Alyssa Strykers is the latest Health Plus/NY1 scholar athlete.

The Health Plus/NY1 Scholar Athlete program celebrates student athletes who successfully combine academics with athletics, and also find time for community service. The program, operated in conjunction with the New York City Department of Education, is open to any senior attending a New York City public high school.

Each week of the school year, a selected student is profiled on NY1 and receives a $2,000 scholarship to the school they choose to attend in the fall.

To apply, download and print out the official Scholar Athlete application, then mail it to the address on the form.