The latest Health Plus/NY1 Scholar-Athlete is a Staten Island senior who is a dedicated community servant with an impressive academic record. NY1's Jon Weinstein filed the following report.

Veronica Lai of Seaview, Staten Island may seem unassuming, but she is one of the most accomplished high school seniors you will ever meet. She makes a concerted effort to improve the lives of others everyday.

"I feel like the littlest thing that you do every day makes a difference, wherever you go and whatever you do," says Lai.

She sports a 100 average at Susan Wagner High School, and her teachers say she is eager to learn and challenge herself in the classroom.

Lai is in the elite Scholar's Academy, and while high school can be competitive, she is always willing to lend a hand to her fellow students in class.

"She manages to somehow excel and still help her friends along the way. She's not going to be that person who hides her physics notes," says college advisor Jessica O'Connell. "She's going to be the person who shares them and tries to help other people while also getting help herself. That's what I find really notable about her."

When people talk about Lai, they note how she always helps others. As a captain of the swim team, she was a mentor to her younger teammates.

"She's a very, very dedicated person, she's very responsible, she's an excellent student. She's just a well-rounded great kid," says swim coach April Consolmagno.

"I think being captain, you want to be able to connect with your team members, so you can all come together and actually be a team," says Lai.

Perhaps Lai's most defining characteristic is her dedication to the community. She is the president of the Key Club, a community service organization, and uses that leadership position to motivate her fellow students.

"She makes people feel very comfortable, she's always willing to talk about her own experiences. Being very shy, too, as a freshman and really developing her leadership skills," says Key Club advisor Jennifer Hermus. "She does activities with the students to make them get to know each other and work together."

Lai is staying close to home for college, as she applied to Barnard early decision and was accepted. She says it is the perfect place for her.

"When you're there at the campus, you feel that sisterhood and everyone's there to support each other and not to compete against you," says Lai. "They're willing to help you and I like that."

So, for doing her part to help others in high school while preparing for big things this fall, Veronica Lai is the latest Health Plus/NY1 Scholar Athlete of the Week.

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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.