A Wendy’s manager was awarded a scholarship by his bosses. Now, he’s heading to Yale

Nbcwashington · 🇺🇸 public United States · Aug 07, 2026 · 651 words · By Joseph Lamour; TODAY

Philanthropy in Business American Dream Educational Attainment

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What to know about Philanthropy in Business

Thalles Winner DeSouza’s aspirations have changed drastically in the past four years.

Claims checked 9

Techniques found 2

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center50%

Right50%

2 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Thalles Winner DeSouza’s aspirations have changed drastically in the past four years.

Why it matters

“I’ll be majoring in political science, and my minor will be human rights,” DeSouza tells TODAY.com.

Common ground

The 23-year-old is attending his first semester at Yale this fall.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Glittering Generalities: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Philanthropy in Business story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that El-Sehrawey and his business partner, Ernest Smily, told DeSouza they would set aside extra money for him for every hour he worked. Once he enrolled in college, they would pay his tuition directly?
What happens next if the deal stalls, and who has the power to restart talks?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/national-international/former-wendys-manager-…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 70% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Glittering Generalities 60% confidence

Using vague, emotionally appealing phrases ('freedom', 'justice') without specifics.

Why it matters: Recognizing glittering generalities helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 9 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 8

help Insufficient Evidence 1

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Claim 1: “El-Sehrawey and his business partner, Ernest Smily, told DeSouza they would set aside extra money for him for every hour he worked. Once he enrolled in college, they would pay his tuition directly.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm that El-Sehrawey and a partner (Smily) provided financial support/scholarships for DeSouza's college tuition.

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web search NEUTRAL — Paying it forward will help Thalles Winner DeSouza attend an Ivy League institution.DeSouza had a chance to meet with El-Sehrawey and Terry Smily to thank them for paying it forward, per the outlet.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/education-and-learning/higher-educ…

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web search NEUTRAL — Photo of Thalles Winner DeSouza, whose Wendy's bosses helped him land at Yale YouTube/Today.Rather than lose DeSouza, El-Sehrawey and Smily proposed a deal that allowed them to retain a key employee w…
https://moneywise.com/life/lifestyle/wendys-worker-bosses-co…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — DeSouza’s boss, Usama El-Sehrawey, who owns several Wendy’s in Cape Cod and Plymouth, Massachusetts, had another idea.Once he enrolled in college, they would pay his tuition directly.
https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/national-international/f…

help

Claim 2: “the late Smily, who died in 2023.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results to confirm or deny the death of Ernest Smily in 2023.

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Claim 3: “DeSouza moved to the U.S. from Brazil in 2016”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources (Michigan Chronicle, Times of India, and others) confirm he moved from Brazil to the U.S. at age 13 in 2016.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2015 season was Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama's 117th year in existence, the club's 100th season in existence of football, and the club's 43rd season playing in the Brasileirão Série A, the top fl…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_CR_Vasco_da_Gama_season

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The following is a list of events and new Spanish and Portuguese-language music that happened in 2023 in the Latin music industry, namely music released in Ibero-America. Ibero-America encompasses Lat…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_in_Latin_music

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Latin Grammy Award for Best Christian Album (Portuguese Language) is given every year since the 5th Latin Grammy Awards ceremony, which took place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The awar…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Grammy_Award_for_Best_Ch…

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 4: “During his junior year, he worked at a Cape Cod Wendy’s, where he was promoted to shift manager.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm he worked at a Cape Cod Wendy's and was promoted to shift manager during high school. While one source says senior year and others say junior year, the core fact of the role and location is corroborated.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Former Wendy’s manager Thalles Winner DeSouza is headed to Yale this fall, after his bosses, Terry Smily and Usama El-Sehrawey, awarded him a scholarship.During his junior year, he worked at a Cape Co…
https://www.today.com/food/people/former-wendys-manager-awar…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Thalles Winner DeSouza — who started working at a Wendy’s in Cape Cod, Mass., in high school before being promoted to a shift manager during his senior year — recently shared his remarkable journey fr…
https://www.aol.com/articles/wendy-employee-earns-full-ride-…

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web search NEUTRAL — Thalles Winner DeSouza, 23, worked for a Wendy's location in Cape Cod during high school before he was promoted to shift manager in his junior year.
https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16031537/cape-cod-wen…

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Claim 5: “he studied for a year before getting into Yale.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm he transferred to Bunker Hill Community College for one year before applying to and being admitted to Yale.

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web search NEUTRAL — Family-owned monument maker serving Austin and Central Texas. We craft custom headstones, grave markers, and memorials with care and compassion. Free consultations.
https://atxmonuments.com/

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web search NEUTRAL — DeSouza transferred to Bunker Hill Community College for a year before he applied to Yale University, which accepts roughly 2% of transfer students each year, according to the Yale Daily News. Start y…
https://nypost.com/2026/08/06/us-news/wendys-worker-thalles-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Thalles Winner DeSouza’s aspirations have changed drastically in the past four years. “I’ll be majoring in political science, and my minor will be human rights,” DeSouza tells TODAY.com. The 23-year-o…
https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/national-international/…

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Claim 6: “DeSouza completed three years at Cape Cod Community College.”

CORROBORATED

The Times of India and other reports explicitly state he spent three years at Cape Cod Community College.

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web search NEUTRAL — DeSouza started a religious club on campus, earned straight As and served as student body president for two years.After spending three years at Cape Cod Community College, he transferred to Bunker Hil…
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/from-wendys-to-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — DeSouza is a 23-year-old who will be joining Yale University this fall. In an interview with TODAY on August 5, he confirmed that he will be "majoring in political science, and my minor will be human …
https://www.primetimer.com/news/who-is-thalles-winner-desouz…

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Claim 7: “He got straight A’s, started a religious club and became student body president by the time he transferred to Bunker Hill Community College in Boston”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm he earned straight A's, founded a religious club, and served as student body president at Cape Cod Community College before transferring to Bunker Hill.

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web search NEUTRAL — At Cape Cod Community College, DeSouza earned straight A's, founded a campus religious club and served as student body president for two years.
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/articles/thalles-desouza-goi…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — While he attended the local school, DeSouza started a religious club on campus, earned straight As and served as the student body president for two years.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/06/us-news/wendys-worker-thalles-…

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Claim 8: “DeSouza’s boss, Usama El-Sehrawey, who owns several Wendy’s in Cape Cod and Plymouth, Massachusetts”

CORROBORATED

Confirmed by multiple sources, including a LinkedIn profile and a business listing, that Usama El-Sehrawey owns Wendy's franchises in Cape Cod and Plymouth, MA.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — DeSouza’s boss, Usama El-Sehrawey, who owns several Wendy’s in Cape Cod and Plymouth, Massachusetts, had another idea.
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/national-international/fo…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Wendy's of Cape Cod & Plymouth · Education: Al-Azhar University · Location: Massachusetts · 500+ connections on LinkedIn. View Usama El-Sehrawey’s profile on LinkedIn, a professional community of 1 bi…
https://www.linkedin.com/in/usama-el-sehrawey-25049127

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web search NEUTRAL — Wendy's® of Cape Cod and Plymouth is a locally owned and operated by Ernest Smily of Centerville, Terry Smily of Centerville and Usama El Sehrawey of Dennis.
https://fashionfoodllc.com/

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Claim 9: “The 23-year-old is attending his first semester at Yale this fall.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources (Primetimer, Today/AOL, and others) confirm Thalles Winner DeSouza is 23 and attending his first semester at Yale this fall.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The 23-year-old is attending his first semester at Yale this fall.DeSouza moved to the U.S. from Brazil in 2016 and worked in fast food while attending high school. During his junior year, he worked a…
https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/national-international/…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Thalles Winner DeSouza, a Wendy's manager who was encouraged by his bosses to attend college, is now heading to Yale University on a full scholarship. DeSouza is a 23-year-old who will be joining Yale…
https://www.primetimer.com/news/who-is-thalles-winner-desouz…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Thalles Winner DeSouza credited his bosses at the fast-food chain for investing in him and helping him earn his way into the Ivy League school. "Sometimes all it takes is one person who believes in yo…
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/articles/wendy-employee-earn…

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.