Homeless New Yorker Up for Intel's Science Competition

Samantha Garvey is an aspiring Marine Biologist. She has applied to Yale and Brown Universities, and has reached the semifinals in Intel’s Science Competition.

She is the picture of an upper-class American being bred for success--except that, at this very moment, she and the rest of her family are homeless. but thanks to her success in the Science Competition, they aren’t going to stay that way for long.

On New Years day, Samantha Garvey and her parents were evicted from their Long Island, NY home. Even in the most troubled neighborhoods, such as Brentwood, have extremely high housing prices. A 3 bedroom home retails for ~$290,000, or can be rented for $1,800 a month.

Garvey’s mother is a nurse’s assistant, but was off the job for 8 months due to a car accident. Between medical bills and an expensive mortgage, Leo Garvey, Samantha’s father, couldn’t cover the bills. Thanks to Samantha’s success in the science fair, the family is getting the help it desperately needs.

Samantha’s experiment related to mussels. "What Sam found was that, like after anyone, after being attacked you develop a tough skin of shell," said Rebecca Grella, Samantha’s high school science teacher. "These mussels were able to increase their thickness and protect themselves against their predator." Garvey spent two years researching to get these results.

Garvey’s story of success despite adversity has gotten her national coverage. "This is just the most amazing thing you could ask for," said Garvey, at a press conference held in her name last Friday.

The Intel science competition was originally held in 1942, sponsored by Westinghouse and the Society for Science and the Public. Many past contestents have gone on to great fame, including seven who have won a Nobel prize. Garvey is one of only 300 teenagers to reach the semifinals nationwide.

HuffingtonPost