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It's one thing to be on a high school sports team. It's another story altogether to be a truly elite athlete like Taylor Murtaugh.

“I'm naturally just a very competitive person, and I think sports allow me to have that outlet to compete and to push myself to do the best that I possibly can,” Murtaugh says.

“She's a leader by example,” says basketball coach Bob Gregory. “She plays hard. She dives all over the floor. She gives it 110 percent. It's not just talking; she leads by performing.”

Murtaugh is the captain of the Bronx High School of Science basketball team, a position she's held since her sophomore year. She's also a gifted soccer player, and led the Bronx Science squad to a city championship this year.

“One of the most incredible sports events of my entire life probably [was] working so hard the past three years to get a city championship,” she says. “To finally get there my senior year with other seniors on the field who have been working just as hard since freshman year, is such a gratifying feeling.”

Taylor is also strong in the classroom and takes an impressive course load. She has an A average while challenging herself with classes like advanced placement Spanish Literature. Her personality and attitude make her a stand out in the school community.

“She has so much drive, energy and passion for learning, and at the same time she's able to balance her workload,” says guidance counselor Donna Dondo. “I just can't believe she's all that.”

“She really kind of drops that little Alka-Seltzer in the class to kind of let all simmer throughout the classroom,” says Patricia Nunez-Hernandez, Murtaugh’s Spanish teacher. “She brings a lot to the class. I think that's the right way of phrasing it.”

Taylor's deciding between attending Trinity College or NYU next year. She plans on playing on both the soccer and basketball teams at either school.

“I’ve had some of the best moments in my life playing sports, and I think that being able to take that even further is an opportunity that I'm not going to let up,” she says.

And so for balancing her love of sports while starring in the classroom, Taylor Murtaugh is our Health Plus/NY1 Scholar Athlete of the Week.

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.