Homeless science whiz gets $50,000 scholarship
Homeless science whiz gets $50,000 scholarship
The accolades continue for a homeless New York teen who's a semifinalist in a prestigious national science contest.
Brentwood High School senior Samantha Garvey appeared Thursday as a guest on the "Ellen" talk show, where she received a $50,000 scholarship from AT&T to the college of her choice. She also was given a $5,000 J.C. Penney gift card and a $1,000 gift card for Whole Foods.
Last week, Garvey was named one of 300 semifinalists in the prestigious Intel science contest. The story of the aspiring marine biologist attracted national attention after it was reported that she and her family were forced to move to a homeless shelter on New Year's Eve.
"You are an inspiration," host Ellen DeGeneres told the 18-year-old senior who hopes to attend either Brown or Yale universities.
"You are an inspiration to me and I hope to anybody else out there watching that is having a hard time or even people who aren't having a hard time and are complaining about petty things that are going on in their lives and they look at you and look at how you conduct yourself."
After Garvey's situation came to light last week, Suffolk County officials announced they had located a rent-subsidized home for the family to live; her parents will pay 30 percent of their monthly income in rent. The house is currently undergoing repairs and should be ready for the family to move in shortly, officials have said.
Garvey, who has been invited by a local congressman to attend President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address next Tuesday, will learn the following day whether she will be one of 40 finalists in the prestigious science contest. She spent more than two years researching the effects of the Asian short crab on the mussel population in a salt marsh on Long Island, east of New York City.
The top prize in the science contest, which has been awarded to seven future Nobel Prize winners, is $100,000.
Garvey on Thursday was traveling from California, where the program was taped a day earlier, and not available to comment, a Brentwood school spokesman said.
She was presented with the scholarship check at the close of the program and appeared speechless by the presentation. She could be seen mouthing the words "That's awesome," as the credits rolled amid audience applause.
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- Posted on January 19, 2012
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Wow Samantha is awesome I would love a $50,000 dollar scholarship. That is really amazing maybe she could help me with my Science somday because i'm not all that great at Science.
Samantha Garvey is so lucky to get all of that money. She worked so hard on her project and lived in a homeless shelter. Samantha really deserved to win. She received a $50,000 scholarship to attend any college she wants to go to, congratulation Samantha :}
That's amazing how a teen can save her family by being smart! That proves that all people can make a differance.Some poeple are small and some people are big but anyone can make a differance.
It's amazing how a homeless teen goes from nothing to a genius. Im sure there are lots of other teens who dont have the opportunity to have a voice. Thats so cool!
wow, isnt it hard to do those competitions. what did she make. How did she make it. Im sure it was hard. im amazed about this. Are you to.
Wow I feel really good for her. It is really intresting that she has a chance to be a finalists in the Prestigious science contest! The good thing for her is that she is getting a new house and might get 100,000$ if she wins the compitition! I really hope she does!
I can't believe this homeless kid got all that money! I don't think she will be homeless for long now. She probably studied very hard and tried her best at her work. I think her parents must be very proud of her!
i like the fact that this article helps the homeless with skils and talents.
if i had that money right now i wouldnt know what to do with it i probably hit up the everyday. the mall would be my homework until the money runs out.
I think that the main idea is how even the less-fortunate can st and achieve goals that most of us couldn't. Even though Samantha Garvey, is homeless, she still achieved a very amazing goal that most of us wouldn't.The evidence I have to prove this statement is: "You are an inspiration to me and I hope to anybody else out there watching that is having a hard time or even people who aren't having a hard time and are complaining about petty things that are going on in their lives and they look at you and look at how you conduct yourself." says host Ellen DeGeneres. I also think that the main idea is that even kids who don't have a perfect life( what I mean by that is that he/she doesn't have everything that everybody else has) can be a great inspiration for kids like us and even to grown ups. The evidence also proves this statement.It is amazing to see kids like her reach amazing goals. She proves that everybody can reach their goals.
I like the fact that this article helps homeless people with skills and talents.I don't have a problem with this story.I wonder if they will be not homeless.