Lauren Taylor, Martinsburg

Congratulations to the NBC25 Student Athletes of the Month.  Our male Student Athlete of the Month is Justin Hymes, a senior at Allegany High School.  Justin plays football and basketball, and also throws the shot for Allegany.  This season he was selected to play in the Crab Bowl football all-star game.

“A lot of people say they're student athletes, but I think it means the combination of not just being a student and participating in athletics, and being good at one, but being able to balance the two,” said Justin.

Off the field Justin carries a 4.3 GPA and is an academic tutor.  He's also a member of the National Honor Society and is a Maryland Distinguished Scholar.  Justin recently signed a letter of intent to play football at Yale University, where he plans to major in political science or pre-law.

“It never really sunk in until pretty much as I was signing, as I was signing the line, that I actually was going to play football at an Ivy League school, and all the opportunity that came,” said Justin.

Our female Student Athlete of the Month is Martinsburg senior Lauren Taylor.  Lauren is a four-year letter winner in soccer for the Bulldogs, and has also run track.  This season, Lauren was selected to be a captain of the soccer team.

“[A student athlete is] someone who is able to balance both their school and athletics and excel in both, and help their teammates to do the same,” said Lauren.

Lauren maintains a 4.14 GPA, is a member of the National Honor Society, and has dedicated herself to community service, including raising more than $10,000 for Hospice, and organizing a bake sale that raised more than $5,500 for Martinsburg police officer J.R. Butcher as he battled cancer.

“I feel that, if the community is going to help me pay for school and college, through their taxes and all the scholarships I'm applying for, I should try and give back to them,” said Lauren.

Congratulations again to Justin Hymes and Lauren Taylor, the NBC25 Student Athletes of the Month.