Liz Murray is an American inspirational speaker who overcame homelessness and drug-addicted parents to attend Harvard University. Murray's life is portrayed in the TV movie Homeless To Harvard: The Liz Murray Story, starring Thora Birch.
Background
At the age of 15 Murray had lost her mother to AIDS and her father moved into a shelter. After her mothers death Murray vowed to change her life. She was accepted into the Humanities Preparatory Academy where she earned her high school diploma in just two years and won a scholarship to Harvard University.
Her Story
- Title: Homeless To Harvard: The Liz Murray Story
- Premiere date: April 7, 2003
- Executive Producers: Barnet Bain, Stephen Deutsch, Tom Patricia
- Producers: Ronni Kern, Michael Mahoney
- Director: Peter Levin
- Screenplay: Ronni Kern
- Distributor: Barnet Bain Films
- Network: Lifetime
- Award: Christopher Award (2004)
- Cast:
- Thora Birch
- Michael Riley
- Robert Bockstael
- Makyla Smith
- Kelly Lynch
Harvard "Not the Best Fit"
Inspirational speaker and author Liz Murray, who was featured in the Lifetime cable network movie she helped produce, left Harvard after eighteen months to care for her ailing father. She opted not to return, telling The Times and Democrat that the school was "not the best fit for me." She makes her living as a speaker and consultant.
References
Fast Facts
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Name
Elizabeth Murray
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Born
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Birthplace
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Fact:
Mother died from AIDS
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Fact:
Father died from AIDS in 2006
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Education
Humanities Preparatory Academy, Harvard
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Awards
New York Times scholarship for needy students
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Fact:
Graduated high school in two years
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Fact:
One of the first people to receive Oprah Winfrey's "Chutzpah Award"
