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For Port Richmond High School senior Stephen Danischewski, settling for anything but the best is never an option.

"I'm kind of my own perfectionist. If I am not doing well at something I really strive to improve it," says Danischewski. "I take the time to practice and I kind of beat myself up over it over my own mistakes."

Danischewski's dedication and drive has not only made him successful in both wrestling and lacrosse, but he also carries a 95 percent grade point average, is a master guitarist and is on the math team, helping his school win first place in this year's district completion.

"He is definitely very well-rounded. He's not only involved in sports activities, he is on the Arista [National Honor Society], which you don't really find," says Stacie Watkins, his guidance counselor. "Captain of the lacrosse team and then a 95 student in the same breath."

"I've always told him I thought he could be successful at anything. He could be an excellent lawyer, he could be an excellent business person," says Daniel DeFazio, Danischewski's advanced placement English Teacher. "He is one of those students that come through every once in a while where I sit back and think that kid could do anything he wants to be."

Danischewski will be attending Rutgers University this fall where sports will no longer be just a hobby. The Staten Island student hopes to have a career in sports medicine.

"I started looking at medicine and combining sports with that so you get sports medicine, which is kind of what I want to do after college, go to med school," says Danischewski.

His maturity and focus are not lost on his coaches and teachers who have nothing but high hopes for the honor student.

"The other day, me and the baseball coach, we saw him walk into the cafeteria, he walked over, shook our hand and we said that this kid's a man," says Lou Vesce, Danischewski's lacrosse coach. "He is very mature and I think he is going to be very successful."

Danischewski's ultimate goal is to become an orthopedic surgeon and work with athletes - a goal that requires up to 15 years of schooling, but he wouldn't have it any other way.

"Four years undergrad, four years med school and maybe five years residency because I want to do orthopedic medicine, and then even more if I want to do sports medicine, another two years for the fellowship," says Danischewski. "It's definitely a commitment but I can't see myself doing anything else in my life."

So, for his maturity and long-term vision, Danischewski is this week's 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.