New Prairie – Senior volleyball captain Margaux Jarka leaves a lasting impression on everyone she meets.

“I’ll never forget my very first open gym,” says third year volleyball coach Deanne Gonzalez. “When they were scrimmaging there was a girl that had never played volleyball that just came. And Margaux, even though she was the best one there skill wise, she still pulled this girl aside and was helping her. Showing her how to serve, telling her where to go. Totally smiling, giving her a high five every time she touched the ball.”

But while volleyball is her passion, her near perfect 3.8 grade point average shows she knows how to balance the important things also.

“We have practice every day,” says Jarka. “I go to school then go to practice then come home and spend as much time as needed to do my homework before I do anything else. So it’s kinda become a routine for me.”

Thanks to her grades and skills on the court, Margaux had an opportunity to go to any school she wanted after graduation. But her drive to help others led her to one choice, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

“It’s not your standard college type,” says Margaux. “But I’m definitely ready for not only the volleyball part and the schooling, but the Army part as well. I’m really proud to be able to have the chance to serve my country.”

“I was very proud of her in the fact that she wants to serve her country,” adds Coach Gonzalez. “She wants to be a doctor, that’s what she wants to do and that’s how she wants to do it, in the military.”

Congratulations to Margaux Jarka, WSBT and Burger King Outstanding Student Athlete.