Extra Effort: West Johnston's Taylor Williams sets others up for success

No one leads the on the court at West Johnston High School like senior Taylor Williams.

"She commands the court, she's the setter of our volleyball team," coach Jason McArtan said.

This year, she passed 1,000 assists for her West Johnston career, but she's been playing since she was young.

"I don't know if it's a good thing, but I've always been a control freak, I like to take control on school projects and such, so being the setter, especially the only one here, I get to lead others and encourage the team," Williams laughed.

Her skills at the net translate off the court.

"Taylor stands out because she's such an incredible student-leader," principal Jennifer Swartz said.

Student government, national honor society, the kids ministry at her church, the list just goes on.

"Even though it might be hard sometimes, I like having a lot of stuff going on, I like a lot of people to be like, 'Oh, Taylor's the person for that,'"

She even competed in the Miss West Johnston pageant, finishing as the second runner-up in her first pagaent attempt.

"She did a monologue on women and female empowerment and I think the other contestants really admired her for doing that," pageant director and West Johnston High School teacher Katie Nicholson said.

She's planning on attending Campbell University in the fall, working toward becoming a nurse. It's Williams brings the best out of everyone around her.

"Her smile, her energy, one that makes you comfortable talking to her," coach Jennifer Hill added.

"If I look at my daughters, I would like them to look up to Taylor as a type of role model both in school and from a sports perspective," McArtan said with a smile.

That's why Taylor Williams is this week's winner of the Tom Suiter Extra Effort Award.