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Francesca Bartalini knows a little thing about athletics. The standout senior at Townsend Harris High School in Queens is a three varsity-sport star, playing softball and volleyball and basketball.

She says she is most proud of her responsibilities as captain of the basketball team.

"I've been playing it the longest," she says. "Basketball is very intense and I just like it."

"On the court, she is phenomenal," said basketball coach Lauren Caiaccia. "She is the type of player you'd like to have many of, so that you can have a peaceful night asleep after a game. She works hard on defense, offense, and contributes in all different facets of the game."

Discipline and hard work have made Bartalini stand out as an athlete, student and community leader. Maintaining a 91 grade point average and taking college-level courses, Bartalini finds time to organize school pep rallies and volunteer at her local church as a teacher's assistant.

"If there is one thing I learned, it's to manager your time well," Batalini says. "Stay in school, pay attention, go to practice, work hard, come home, do all your homework, don't procrastinate."

Teachers and staff at Townsend Harris say they marvel at Bartalini's success and dedication. Giving up is something this senior does not do. She believes perseverance keeps her moving.

"She's very mature, very dedicated," says teacher Jonathan Owens. "She is always pushing herself to do the best she can. It's the same skills she uses academically that that she uses on the court when she's playing."

"She is very warm and bright young lady who really does fit the criteria of an athlete scholar," says Jonathan Hirsch, the school's guidance counselor.

Bartalini credits her family for the skills they instilled upon her and for putting her on the path of athletics.

"My family has been very supportive," she says. "My parents put me in basketball in the first place and have been supporting and nurturing. I have all this stress from school and to come home to my family, they are really there for me."

Bartalini plans to stay close to her family, furthering her education at St. Johns University in the fall, where she's been accepted into their Honor's Program.

So for her ability to score big in each one of her sports while always being a team player, Francesca Bartalini is the Healthplus/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.