Homeless Long Island Teenager Is Intel Competition Semifinalist

January 12, 2012 3:51 PM

Samantha Garvey and her mussels at Brentwood High School – Brentwood, NY – Jan 12, 2012 (credit: Sophia Hall / WCBS 880)

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BAY SHORE, NY (CBSNewYork / AP) - Samantha Garvey has good reason to be the recipient of high fives and congratulations from the faculty and students in the hallways at Brentwood High School.

WCBS 880′s Sophia Hall On The Story

The 17-year-old senior says she cannot believe that she is one of the semifinalists in the highly prestigious Intel Science Competition, in part because she lives in a Bay Shore homeless shelter with her parents, brother, and twin sisters.

“I am currently homeless. Like I’ve said, this motivates me to do better. I do well and I pursue my passion because it’s what I have and it’s a way out, you know, and it’ll lead to better things,” Garvey told WCBS 880 reporter Sophia Hall.

Samantha Garvey and her father at Brentwood High School - Brentwood, NY - Jan 12, 2012 (credit: Sophia Hall / WCBS 880)

She said she was blown away and started crying when she learned about her place in the competition.

“I’ve gotten a lot of calls. People on Facebook, they’re posting things on my wall and it’s really exciting,” she said.

Garvey is one of 61 Long Island students who have a chance at the competition’s top prize of $100,000.

“I did a marsh study where I looked at mussels in a marsh and I saw that when they were exposed to crabs, they grew heavier shells,” she said.

After that, she introduced the situation to a lab setting.

Her guidance counselor Karin Feil said Garvey takes advantage of anything offered to her.

She also studies Italian and plays the violin. Plus, she has 3.9 grade point average.

Samantha said she dreams of becoming a marine biologist after attending Brown or Yale.

(TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Homeless Long Island Teenager Is Intel Competition Semifinalist

Sean

A “homeless shelter” is considered a home. A sidewalk is considered a home. Homeless doesn’t mean not having a home. It means people plenty of opportunity and we should help if they want it.

USArmyCombatMedic

“Definition of HOMELESS: having no home or permanent place of residence”
~Merriam-Webster Dictionary

“Homeless doesn’t mean not having a home”
~Sean

Hmm… Who should we believe?

Eric P Turner

not the retarded sheeple sean thats for sure must be a 1%er

Clarity-jane Seer

Sean are you for real! That is the most stupidess coment ever!

Joie G

agreed! What a horrible thing to say! this girl is excelling and not asking for handouts! Take your malcontent soemwhere where it is deserved, like the occupy camp!
KC

I wish her the best… She is the type that will succeed at whatever she chooses to do. God Bless.
Judy Sullivan

One of the few I would be happy to see assistance go to. Unlike the many who will permanently be on the dole, she has the drive to rise.
I_Like_Apples

Look at that smile! You’ve earn it Ms. Garvey.
Crash Froelich

A homeless scholar from a homeless family. Wonder why there’s no mention of how the family got in that condition? Losers don’t encourage their children to excel them, excel period. Victims of the Obama economy? The lack of such details speaks volumes by it’s absence.

mike

Fox reports that Garvey and her family were evicted from their home on New Year’s Eve. Garvey’s mother, Olga, was working as a nurse’s assistant but hasn’t worked in the last eight months due to a car accident and her father, Leo, couldn’t keep up with the bills on his salary as a cab drive alone

http://www.inquisitr.com/181106/samantha-garvey-17-year-old-homeless-teen-up-for-100000-science-award/

Bob

I emailed Texas A&M School of Marine Biology at Galveston and urged them to contact her to apply for admission and scholarships with this story. We would welcome her and her family to the Gulf coast.

Marvin

Bob, you are good folks.

Robx

I say give the Solyndra “Bonuses” to this girl! Someday she will create more jobs then all of those “smart” people ever did! I cant tell you how much better I feel about the future after seeing this story! I hope there are more of her! I hate to imagine all the ones we will never hear about, lost forever.

TDizzle

I agree!!

Mike M.

If she played a sport, she would get a full scholarship to any school she chooses, even if she had a 0.1 GPA. Then she would have it made for the rest of her natural life. Instead, she is actually smart, and has to struggle through life, while the rest of us worship some brain dead moron who can pick up a football or basketball – This is a prime example of what’s wrong with today’s society.

I honestly wish this girl the best of luck in her future endavours.

Chris

The NCAA has standards regarding grades and participation in athletics. So does high school athletic departments. If someone had a 0.1 GPA they wouldn’t even be participating in athletics much less getting a scholarship.

Ignorance is really what’s wrong with today’s society.

USArmyCombatMedic

Agreed. Not to mention simply going to a university doesn’t guarantee anything, much less “hav[ing] it made for the rest of her natural life”.
bart

My son graduated with an obnoxious star football player who was not only a 1.0 student but also was arrested for stealing alcohol from a local state store. Any other kid would have been expelled for a year but he was simply transferred to another school where he never missed a beat on the field. He was then accepted to West Point even though he was ranked one of the lowest academics in his graduating class. He plays footbal therel. I’d like to know what schools have these high standards ’cause it sure doesn’t exist in our system.

Michael Hansen

It’s called “affirmative action” – how do you think Barry ever got into Harvard Law????

Rick

Samantha you are an inspiration to every person in the world.

I want affirmative action for short white people and hispanics in the NBA. Descrimination has gone on for way to long in the NBA.

Mike M.

I was exaggerating about the 0.1 GPA. But my main point still stands – we worship the athlete more than we worship the person with a mind that could potentially cure cancer.

Athletes get superstar status while smart people with REAL potential go unnoticed.

Michael Hansen

Well there is a certain base fairness to life – nothing against the young lady but the relationship of crabs to mussel shell thickness only impacts me once every few weeks when I treat myself to a nice plate of Frita di Mare – and no one else except me and the chef cares. On the other hand if you can pass a ball half as well as Rodgers or Brady you too will be “worshipped” by the millions looking for entertainment so they don’t have to go through life worrying about the interplay between crabs and mussels…

tony

I gotta ask-what the heck is Frita di Mare? Anything like Cinco De Mayo?

all amerikan girl

What you’re leaving out is what the actual course of study is. How hard is to ace basket weaving? Most of the curricula these days are bogus, just designed to get the taxpayers’ money, get the b!tches knocked up, the dudes fleeing into the military and inflate the administrators’ salaries. Get rid of the Dept of Edumucation.

Chas Holman

Kudos kids..

Take what life throws at you.. and build stuff with it.
Moni

I am happy this ALL AMERICAN GIRL who is focused got what she deserves.
I wish her and her family the best – She is the type of child who will make this world a better place…. Thank you for You!
Shannon Alday

Someone please post an address where mail/assistance can be sent to help Samantha.

USArmyCombatMedic

Google: homeless shelters near Brentwood HS New York, and you will find like 3 within a 5mile radius of the school. My guess is it would be one of those. The phone numbers are listed. Call and inquire first. They may not be able to directly answer your questions (privacy law), so be willing to leave your contact info so the family can get a hold of you.

Dori B

***Where to send a check? Need an address so that those who can help a little can send them a check******
Marta

This girl’s story should be shown in EVERY school to every student. She is an inspiration that even someone in her situation can pull themselves up and JUST DO IT!!!! Talk about triumph over adversity!
one of her teachers

I can tell you all this: She is the real deal, a truly lovely student with a dynamic and graceful presence and I am so proud to have had her in my classes and in our school. Ms. Garvey makes Brentwood very proud. There are many of our students who overcome great odds and you don’t hear about it. She is as terrific as she seems.

Jim in Houston

You should be proud of her and her accomplishments. She could have done like so many others and blamed everyone else for her family being homeless and then try to milk the system. She is a role model for all poor and/or homeless kids. Great job Ms Garvey.

Bullett

Here’s to you Samantha, and follow your dreams.
Bartholomew Harte

When the going gets tough,the Tough get going! I wish all good things for You!
julie

God bless you
Linda Quick

Samantha Garvey is an investment Warren Buffet would do well to consider.
A “Going Postal” Worker

Wow – some people really overcome amazing odds.

With all of the bad news out there, this story was truly heart-warming!

RDK

Congratulations Samantha! This American Spirit is what we need more of. Keep pushing, good things are coming your way.
Moe1138

I think someone embraced the whole “personal responsibility” thing and ran with it. When all the other children say it’s too hard or I can’t do this, just point to this young lady.
Oh, and the “Regime” will take credit for this, watch.
Tom Smith

I was watching ABC last night on how women were screening sperm donors based partly on IQ. Just not that simple. What a fine woman this is in this story
Christopher Jackson

The dumbing down of America folks. the ones who control this nation have quite successfully destroyed this nation by destroying the family and the economy

CSI

Thats great. Keep up the good work.
marc

I want to add another thing: I hope that someone well-off sees this and helps her and her family out.

Nick

Always up to SOMEONE ELSE huh? Why don’t YOU do something for a change?

Michael H.

perhaps marc is not well off enough to help others to any meaningful extent?

Nick

Any help will do. I’m not “well off”. And I donate to build schools. All you twits do is whine whine whine. Never Do Do Do.

Michael H.

How, exactly, was marc “whining”? The only whining I see is coming from you.

Nick

Typical mark/Michael H. Divert the attention. You want to help, than help. Always whining for others to do it. DO for once. It’ll actually WORK. Two words unknown to you folks.

Mikey

The fact that Nick is completely right is the reason why you throw out an ad hominem attack that has no bearing on the conversation.

Casper

Nick, you should preface your statement with your contributions. That would make your statement more powerful.

Eric P Turner

they will so they get 15 min of fame not because they really wanted to help i wouldn’t be surprised if one of the criminal candidates use a photo op with her to make them selves look good

marc

Finally, a good story. Best of luck to her. And her scientific study has true relevance to our knowledge of evolution. Hope she wins and lives her dream. (And I would be remiss not to mention that she is damn cute!).
John

Congrats Samantha! Don’t EVER stop.
FeelingMinnesota

Better than those Occupy Wall Street tools! *Snorts* Good for you Samantha!

AJZ

This has everything to do with OWS you ignorant a$$. While this woman, who is homeless, and ACTUALLY underpriveleged, is going to rise out of her situation and live the American dream, people like you and OWS leeches, coming from priveleged backgrounds, whine about having to work. You pig.

MaggieLyn

AMEN!
hawker1

In a few years Samantha will be one of the 1% that the OWS leeches are protesting against.
Dave

AJZ what are you talking about??? make sense much??

calm down and reduce your dosage

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Homeless Long Island Teenager Is Intel Competition Semifinalist

January 12, 2012 3:51 PM

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