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    Homeless Teen Could Win $100,000 Science Prize and New Future for Family

    Samantha Garvey is one teenage girl who would rather read something called The Journal of Shellfish Research than Glamour magazine.

    "What I'm doing is the American dream," she says.

    The 17-year-old high school senior maintains a 3.9 grade point average at her Brentwood, N.Y., high school, studies Italian and plays the violin. She also has an unusual interest that has recently caught some attention: On Wednesday she was named one of 61 Long Island semifinalists in the national Intel Science Talent Search because of her work studying the effects of predators on ribbed mussels.

    "I get so excited to tell people about my mussels and crabs that I become a completely different person," she said.

    There's another reason why Garvey and her family are so excited about her nomination. The teen, along with her parents and her 13-year-old siblings, are now living in a homeless shelter. The top prize for the award is a life-changing $100,000.

    "It's unbelievable," she told ABC News today. "It might as well be the lottery."

    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.

    Even though she doesn't have a place to call her own, or even a desk to do her homework on, the teen has continued to excel at school. Ranking No. 4 in her class, she said she works hard in school for a reason.

    "I want to do better for myself," she said. "I want a better life."

    In two weeks, she'll find out if she becomes a finalist for the Intel prize, and if she will be given the chance to get her and her family a more permanent place to call home. With so many children across America finding themselves in a similar situation, Garvey has some advice.

    "I'm right there with you," she said. "I hope things get better, because they do."

    That's just one lesson from a young woman whose future shines bright.

    Also Read
     
    • Fan  •  4 mths ago
      "It's unbelievable," she told ABC News today. "It might as well be the lottery."

      No, please... never think of it as the lottery, it is your hard work and dedication despite hardship in life.
      • Donald Belyeu 4 mths ago
        You could work all your life and get nothing in return. Success is a lot like the lottery. Just saying.
      • Robert 4 mths ago
        Why do some people - - after typing/saying something - - add "just saying"???
        Should Thomas Jefferson have added "just saying" at the end of the Declaration of Independence?
      • golf rat 4 mths ago
        Lol! I agree with you Robert. Another one is, "that being said", I feel like saying, "i know what you said"!
    • Britney Sawyer  •  Nashville, Tennessee  •  4 mths ago
      Good luck, I was homeless with my kids and I have come a long way through being frugal and getting a college education. I hope all goes well for you.
      • Gary J 4 mths ago
        Sorry Britney we don't believe your story.
      • JoeStrummer 4 mths ago
        Shut up Gary, you #$%$sucking prick Republican. You are not an American.
      • Bob_Bo46 4 mths ago
        Pat on the back girl, I wish the best for you also.
    • Lew  •  4 mths ago
      Great story!!! More power to her and standing on her own in spite of the odds. Wish all our kids were like her. No excuses, no laying down and giving up......I hope she wins the $100K!!!!
      • COUNTRY GIRL 4 mths ago
        i hope she wins also lew. my hat is off to her parents for encouraging and supporting her in her endeavors to better her families life despite their despair and lot in life. there are kids in this world that never receive encouragement; only words that demean and bring them down, therefore, they lack self-esteem and do not have the will to be any better. so my thanks is to her parents for their selfless support of her as she strives for a better lot in life.
    • Jenny Penny  •  4 mths ago
      You Go Girl!!! You are a testament to all that is good! WE ARE ROOTING FOR U!
    • PapaMoose  •  Atlanta, Georgia  •  4 mths ago
      When I feel the youth of America are a lost cause...someone proves me wrong..may your hard work be rewarded Samantha...
      • Its Still Stupids Economy 4 mths ago
        I hope she wins because it sounds like she could use some good fortune in her life for a change
      • Slap Happy 4 mths ago
        U.S. 20-somethings are lost in a confusing world. The good-old-days the babyboomers long for are not coming back. You've had your fun, your time is over. And throw something in the recycling bin on occasion, I know you consume like beasts.
      • Michael 4 mths ago
        dont worry guys, im 18 and not a #$%$ :) 3.8gpa @USF
    • Paula  •  Rochester, New York  •  4 mths ago
      Brought tears to my eyes. Samantha- I wish you and your family the best, whether or not you win it looks like you will have a bright future regardless (big I am hoping you did win!) Such a strong, positive, motivated young girl. Very inspiring!
      • joe 4 mths ago
        It brought tears to your eyes, but I doubt you'll do a damned thing to help her or her family.
      • Paula 4 mths ago
        **But I'm hoping you do win. I LOVE my grammar, uhhh!
      • nikond800 4 mths ago
        then you should watch "from homeless to harvard" true story of Liz murrauy
    • Snapper  •  Clarksburg, West Virginia  •  4 mths ago
      Great story of a young lady realizing that she can do - by doing for herself. Good luck to her in this endeavor. More importantly, my hope is she stays inspired (in-spirit) and remain confident enough to realize her dreams and humble enough to serve the less-fortunate as in her life's journey.
    • Norm  •  Guangzhou, China  •  4 mths ago
      I wish Yahoo would set up a donation box for stories like this. Through Pay-Pal or something like that. I'm not rich by any means, but would love to help this hard working little girl reach her goals. I wish her the best of luck in the future.
    • Watt D Fuch  •  4 mths ago
      She rocks unlike the spoiled, entitled brats posting negative smack.
    • CarolineO  •  4 mths ago
      AMAZING STORY =D GOOD LUCK HUN!!!
    • kilowatts  •  Algonquin, Illinois  •  4 mths ago
      No retreat no surrender!...Keep moving forward..Congrats
    • Eddie B  •  Las Vegas, Nevada  •  4 mths ago
      Instead of giving a scholarship to some snot-nosed kid whose parents have connections, they need to be giving one to this girl. Financial Hardship, tough up-bringing, 3.9 GPA, doing independent studies on a high level...this young women deserves a free ride wherever she goes.
    • Lori  •  4 mths ago
      Wow you go girl!!!!!!!!! Hope she gets it :-)
    • Manny  •  4 mths ago
      I'm rooting for you, kid! Go for it. Every once in a while yahoo surprises me with a worthwhile story...
    • In my opinion  •  Traverse City, Michigan  •  4 mths ago
      Amazing! I hope she accomplishes what she has set out to do here. She certainly sounds deserving! But I'm sure her competition is every bit as committed and dedicated to this task, too. Tough call! Got my fingers crossed for her tho!
    • Ohio Ignorant Conservativ ...  •  4 mths ago
      Wonderful child. I hope she wins!
    • willyb  •  4 mths ago
      Be nice if she wins the $100,000.
    • paty  •  4 mths ago
      It makes me so mad to hear about Beyonce & Jay Z spending so much $$ on a room, or how Kim K spends hundreds of thousands of dollars on shoes. If only they would invest some of that money on poor youths who struggle everyday and who have potential to make our future better, America would be so much better. Good luck girl and I hope you win 1st place.
    • h8  •  4 mths ago
      It's truely amazing what a teen can do when their not infected with Mtv, video games, reality crap moral corrupting tv shows, social sites and peer pressure to be popular instead of educated. Win or loose i'd love to be the proud parent of a teen like her.
    • Jason  •  Everett, Washington  •  4 mths ago
      This is the type of American I would like to support. This is the type of American I would like to have my tax dollars go to. This is the type of American I would like to see succeed. This is what America is about.
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