ORLANDO, Fla. -- An Orlando teen who overcame some long odds is one step closer to her dream, Tuesday morning. Elease Samms, a Jones High School teen, was forced to study by candlelight when her family fell on hard times after hurricane Katrina.

But Samms still got straight A's and wanted to go to Cornell. Eyewitness News was there when Samms first learned she was accepted.

It was 5:00pm Monday and the life of 18-year-old Elease Samms changed forever. The Jones High School valedictorian will soon be on her way to Cornell University.

"I feel everyone deserves the best education they can get," Samms said.

The news came only after years of hard work and straight A's.

"I don't know how she did it. I can't imagine going through what she went through," said Samms' mother, Heather, as she wiped tears form her face.

Her mother remembers the hard times when the family struggled to pay bills, had no electricity in their home and Elease studied by candlelight. The story Eyewitness News first ran about Elease caught the eye of Orlando area hotel owner Harris Rosen.

"He said 'Bridgette, I'm a graduate of Cornell. What can I do to help,'" said Dr. Bridget Williams, the principal at Jones High.

Rosen called Cornell's president and on acceptance day, Elease called Mr. Rosen who passed along his congratulations.

"But she has some responsibility, and that is she must set an example for others who will hopefully follow in her footsteps," Rosen said on the phone.

Elease is ready to go and start the exciting new chapter in her life. Elease plans to study to be an architect. Cornell is well-known for its architecture program.