Intel Semifinalist Is Homeless No More Thanks to Community
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Samantha Garvey, the homeless high school senior gaining recognition for becoming a semifinalist in the Intel Science Talent Search, will soon have a home thanks to officials in Long Island.
Suffolk county official Steve Bellone said in a press conference this morning that Garvey and her family can move into a rent-subsidized home in about 10 days. The teen and her family have been living in a homeless shelter since Jan. 1.
Against all odds, Garvey has excelled in school, maintaining a 3.9 grade point average along with studying Italian and learning to play the violin. Her work in science, specifically studying the effects of predators on mussels, landed her on a list of one of 300 semifinalists in the nationwide competition. She will find out next month if she becomes a finalist. The top prize is $100,000.
“I get so excited to tell people about my mussels and crabs that I become a completely different person,” she said.
Garvey and her family have lived in shelters and hotels since she was a little girl. Seven years ago, they were able to move into a house, but in February 2010, her parents were involved in a car accident. They were forced to leave.
“It hurts leaving everything behind and just having to be rushed out of your home,” she said of the experience.
Now, it seems, she will be able to focus on her work in her own home — thanks to the community.
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To Sam: I hope you’re aiming for med school. Anything less will be financially risky in this economy. A MD-PhD medical scientist program would be perfect for you. Try to get into the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Fellows Program while in med school. This is like the Harvard of research opportunities. Go for gold (or 1st place trophy, or ribbon, whatever Intel uses)!
Posted by: Go for gold! | January 13, 2012, 5:00 pm 5:00 pm
Too bad it took a little girl to drive and excel to get her family into a home. Shameful when trillions of U.S. taxpayer (people who work) dollars are sent overseas by politicians and our own citizens are neglected.
Guess we better thank Obama for this – I’m sure he’ll take credit for it!
Posted by: Goldcoaster | January 13, 2012, 11:29 pm 11:29 pm
God bless and Good Luck!!! Is there anywhere I can send a donation to help this family?? Please contact my email.
Posted by: Diana | January 14, 2012, 9:58 am 9:58 am
Yes Goldcoaster, Obama is personally kicking people out and sending their money overseas. The corporations and banks that buy every election and politician are certainly not doing it…….
pull your engine out of your caboose and realize both parties do not have the Citizen as their priority and stop playing the 2 party game you have been tricked into believing functions as “democracy” in this country.
Easy solution: $1000 limit on campaign contributions, No PACs or group giving of ANY kind. You can only give to the candidates that DIRECTLY(ie. you live in their district or state) represent you
Posted by: Jake | January 14, 2012, 1:34 pm 1:34 pm
Good karma to a commendable performance against great odds. I could see how tough mentally she is.
Posted by: Srihari Varada | January 15, 2012, 4:26 pm 4:26 pm