Wendy's Employee Received Scholarship From Owners To Attend Community College, Now He's Heading To Yale University
His former Wendy’s bosses paid his tuition directly, helping him finish community college and earn admission to Yale.
- Former Cape Cod Wendy's shift manager Thalles Winner DeSouza is attending his first semester at Yale University this fall, following years of academic success fueled by tuition support from his former franchise owners.
- Four years ago, franchise owners Usama El-Sehrawey and the late Ernest Smily offered to fund DeSouza's education if he remained at their restaurant, providing financial stability to attend Cape Cod Community College.
- After moving to the United States from Brazil in 2016 following a shooting, DeSouza credits his former bosses' investment for his success, writing, "Sometimes all it takes is one person who believes in you."
- Academic success at Cape Cod Community College and Bunker Hill Community College preceded his admission to the Ivy League school, where he now plans to pursue a pre-law track to become a lawyer.
- DeSouza shared his journey in a July 28 Facebook post to publicly thank his mentors, encouraging others to "continue, persevere" regardless of how long their path to success might take.
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14 Articles
Wendy's worker attending Yale after managers help him foot the bill for his school fees
Thalles De Souza, a worker at a Wendy’s restaurant in Massachusetts, will be furthering his education at the prestigious Yale University this fall after his managers helped him pay his school fees. De Souza’s managers decided to help him further his education after they noticed his potential. “It changed my whole perspective about life and...
Wendy's Employee Received Scholarship From Owners To Attend Community College, Now He's Heading To Yale University
Paying it forward will help Thalles Winner DeSouza attend an Ivy League institution. DeSouza was working at a Wendy’s fast food restaurant in Cape Cod, MA, while he was still in high school, People reports. He had moved to the U.S. after surviving a shooting in Brazil. Thinking of his future, he considered going into construction as an alternative to help pay for his higher education. That was until he received an offer from franchise owners Usa…
From Wendy’s to Yale: Thalles DeSouza survived a shooting, learned English and earned a full scholarship worth over $194,500
Thalles Winner DeSouza, 23, is heading to Yale University after a difficult journey that began with surviving a shooting in Brazil. After moving to the US, he worked at Wendy’s while studying. His bosses helped fund three years of community college, supporting his education. DeSouza later transferred colleges and earned admission to Yale, where he plans to study political science and human rights on a pre-law track.
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