The Wednesday-announced finalists’ list in the prestigious Intel Science contest does not feature the name of the homeless New York High school science student who was one of the semifinalists named in December, for her marine biology research.

While ten students from New York made it to the contest’s finalist list, the 40-in-all finalists competing for the first prize of $100,000 do not include 18-year-old Samantha Garvey – a Brentwood High School senior – who grabbed the headlines when it was reported that the girl was living in a homeless shelter.

With widespread reports about Samantha’s homeless condition, it has recently been announced by Suffolk County officials that all necessary arrangements are being made for helping the Garvey family move into a house.

Even though Samantha has not made it to the finals of the Intel Science contest, the fact that she was named a semifinalist is a big achievement in itself, especially since she reached that level at a time when her family was forced into homelessness.

In the wake of her accomplishment, Samantha was an invited guest at President Obama's State of the Union address on Tuesady. In addition, she also appeared on the Ellen show, and bagged a $50,000 college scholarship.

Revealing that her parents – Leo and Olga Garvey – had always taught her, and her siblings, to “Keep your head up,” Samantha told TODAY that her achievements, even in the face of adversity, were a result of her “positive mentality.”