Oscar Princess Overcomes Homelessness, Poverty to Excel

Feb. 19, 2007 — -- From the moment "Good Morning America's" Chris Cuomo met Neveen Mahmoud, he knew that she was special and that she had overcome the worst to become the best.

The 17-year-old Philadelphian had the surprise of her life last week, when "Good Morning America" made her its "Oscar princess."

Neveen, or "Veenie" as her friends call her, and her mother, Dorita, will be traveling to Los Angeles for an all-expense paid trip to cover the Oscars with the "GMA" crew.

"I don't know, even know. I'm just overwhelmed. You think that you do something and you're just gonna do it and people will never notice," Neveen said, sobbing after being told last week.

"Good Morning America" originally met Neveen when she was awarded the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation -- a full four-year scholarship to any college in the world.

The scholarship is awarded to students who have overcome great obstacles to excell. For more on the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation's Young Scholars program visit it's Web site at www.jackkentcookefoundation.org.

Neveen and her mother, Dorita, had been on their own from the time she was a toddler, when her dad abandoned them.

Neveen's mother said, "I looked at this child, and I said to her, 'I will never turn my back on you.'"

Dorita worked hard as a popular travel agent for many years. She supported herself and her daughter until she was hit with a series of debilitating health problems, including heart and kidney failure and sleep apnea so bad that she had a tracheotomy. She was also diagnosed with a rare spinal disease that grips her entire body in constant pain. She's only 47.

Neveen said, "The hardest part is that it's not fair. It's hurt me when she's pushing herself to show up at my games when she's in pain. And that there's nothing I can do to physically make it go away."