RICHLANDS, N.C. — A top five class ranking, multiple community service projects, and success in both softball and volleyball highlight Juliette Desmarais' high school experience.

What You Need To Know

  • Spectrum News 1's High School Scholar of the Week Juliette Desmarais attends Richlands High School

  • Desmarais volunteers at the Salvation Army

  • She will be attending North Carolina Wesleyan

“So I'm in the engineering academy, which is a field that I thought I was very, very interested in and is a great program at our school. I load up my classes a lot, which can set up a student for procrastination, but I feel like I stay on top of everything a lot,” Desmarais says.

Desmarais' academic success is just a small part of the person she is. She takes a lot of pride in helping her community, having spent more than 500 hours of voluntary community service.

“I volunteer mostly at Salvation Army in Jacksonville, and I've been doing that since about 2016 because of Hurricane Matthew, and honestly, helping people gives you a sense of fulfillment, and it's just so nice,” Desmarais says.

Desmarais' Senior Counselor at Richlands High School, Kerstin Stiffler, nominated her for the scholarship. She speaks very highly of Juliette and describes her as selfless and a role model.

“I couldn't think of any one more deserving to receive this scholarship than Juliette,” Stiffler says.

Rep. Jimmy Dixon presented Desmarais with the award.

Both of her softball coaches, who have been a big part of Desmarais' childhood, can't say enough about her.

“She has an innate leadership ability. In the classroom she's always led as far as students go, getting work accomplished, striving for that extra grade, and that has followed her right out into the community, and it's transpired out onto the ball field as well,” explains Matthew Lovely, Richlands High School softball coach and teacher.

“I could probably talk to you for the rest of the day, your battery would run out by the time I got through trying to explain everything, but she's just a wonderful person,” says Jody Turner, Desmarais' travel softball coach.

While she strives to continue being a role model, a leader, and a successful student/athlete, Desmarais remains humble and focused on having a successful future as a softball player for North Carolina Wesleyan and of course, continue having success in the classroom as well.

“I plan on getting a Mathematics degree, and if possible, get a certificate in secondary education to teach,” Desmarais adds.