Desmand Wessells, a 2024 graduate of Northampton High School, has been selected as a prestigious Gates Scholar and will attend University of Virginia’s School of Engineering and Applied Science in August.

The Gates Scholarship is a highly selective, last-dollar scholarship for outstanding, minority, high school seniors from low-income households. The scholarship is awarded to exceptional student leaders to help them realize their maximum potential. Desmand was one of only 300 students selected nation-wide from a pool of over 37,000 applicants. He and a student from Newport News are the only Gates Scholars selected from Hampton Roads.

Desmand Wessells, 2024 Northampton High School graduate, was selected from a pool of over 37,000 candidates as a prestigious Gates Scholar. He will attend UVA School’s of Engineering with all expenses paid.

A first-generation college student and resident of Exmore, Desmand is a graduate of Project Horizons, a program of Eastern Shore Community College Foundation that provides college track mentoring for students in grades 7-12 in Northampton and Accomack public schools. 

At Northampton, Desmand was a member of the National Honor Society, Scholastic Bowl team, Cape Charles Rotary Interact Club, and Northampton High School Band where he played percussion. He works at McDonalds in Exmore and explains, “I want to be an electrical engineer and hopefully one day work for a big tech company. I want to be successful so I can help my current and future family and ensure that we no longer have to struggle financially.”

Desmand joined Project Horizons in August of 2023 and approached Coordinator Miriam Cornwell, for assistance. Miriam explains, “Throughout the 2023-2024 school year Desmand and I spent many hours working on college applications, essays, and scholarships. I learned about his goal of becoming an electrical engineer, how he was responsible for his two younger brothers from a young age, and how his family had struggled at times throughout his childhood.”

Miriam arranged for Desmand to spend a day at Wallops in January shadowing NASA professionals in aerospace engineering and computer science. She continued to work with him on scholarship applications through the winter. Desmand was notified that he was a finalist for both the Questbridge scholar program and the Gates Scholarship. 

In April Desmand received news that he was selected as a Gates Scholar, with 100% of his tuition, fees, housing, and expenses covered for four years. The Gates Scholarship also provides mentoring and support throughout college and will help him transition to a career. Desmand attended The Gates Summer Institute in Arizona, also paid for through his scholarship. While there, he and other Gates Scholars networked with industry experts and received support for college and career readiness. 

At ESCC’s Project Horizons senior celebration in June, Desmand expressed his gratitude, “I am so appreciative of Ms. Cornwell’s help and for believing in me.  I would not have become a Gates Scholar if it had not been for her efforts.”

Miriam explains, “We are so proud of Desmand and all that he has accomplished this year, and we can’t wait to see him reach all of his goals.”  For more information about Project Horizons, funded in part by Project Discovery of Virginia, contact Miriam Cornwell at mcornwell@es.vccs.edu.