Homeless L.I. Intel Contest Semifinalist To Get $50K Scholarship On 'Ellen' Show
BRENTWOOD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The accolades continue for a homeless Brentwood High School senior who's a semifinalist in a the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search.
During the taping of the talk show "Ellen", host Ellen DeGeneres presented Samantha Garvey with a $50,000 scholarship from AT&T to the college of her choice.
The show airs this afternoon.
Since Garvey's story gained national attention, her family has been offered a Bay Shore home by Long Island officials.
The 17-year-old and her family had been living in a homeless shelter since New Year's Day after her parents were injured in a car accident which left them unable to work.
She's also been invited to watch President Barack Obama's State of the Union address on Jan. 24 as a guest of U.S. Rep. Steve Israel of Long Island.
Israel said he was inspired by the teen's story.
"I think she can teach those powerful people a lesson in perseverance, a lesson in not allowing setbacks to defeat you," Israel said on Tuesday.
Last week, Garvey was named one of 300 semifinalists who have a chance at winning the Intel Science Talent Search top prize of $100,000. Her two-and-a-half year project focused on predators' effects on ribbed mussels.
Garvey dreams of becoming a marine biologist after attending Brown or Yale.
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