Samantha Garvey, the homeless Brentwood High School senior who was a semifinalist in the prestigious Intel Science contest, is not among the 40 finalists—but she has come away a winner.
The 18-year-old student attracted national attention after it was reported she was living in a Bay Shore shelter with her family when she learned earlier this month she was one of 300 semifinalists.
The finalists were announced Wednesday morning. Ten other New Yorkers, five from Long Island, are among the contenders for the $100,000 first prize.
Garvey has since appeared on the “Ellen” talk show, where she received a $50,000 scholarship. Suffolk County officials also have arranged for her family to move from a homeless shelter to a house in Bay Shore.
Rep. Steve Israel (D-Dix Hills) also brought Garvey as his guest to President Obama’s State of the Union speech Tuesday night.
In an appearance Wednesday on the “Today” show, Garvey said the presence of so many “historic figures” made her want to combine her studies in science with policy.
The five Long Island students who were named finalists include Savina Kim of Commack High School, Anna Sato of Ward Melville High School, Juliana Coraor of Huntington High School, Neil Mehta of Jericho Senior High School and Rachel Davis of Smithtown High School East.
-With Associated Press.