2021 Linde Engineers Of Tomorrow Scholars
Sponsored by Linde, this scholarship is awarded to high achieving undergraduate Black students currently attending a four-year college or university and pursuing a mechanical or chemical engineering degree.
The 2021 class received a one-time, need-based scholarship in the amount of $12,000 to assist with educational expenses for the 2021-2022 academic year.
David Deslandes
David Deslandes is majoring in chemical and biomolecular engineering at the Tandon School of Engineering at New York University. Deslandes intends to start a minor in finance this fall. He has not decided on a concrete career yet but is interested in both engineering and investment banking/asset management, as these satisfy his passion for creative problem solving and his goals as they relate to financial freedom. On campus, Deslandes is heavily involved in the Caribbean Students Association, National Society of Black Engineers, Water Polo, Urban Food Lab VIP, Solar-Powered Media VIP and maintains two part-time on campus jobs. He also volunteers with March for Science. Deslandes was raised in Kingston, Jamaica where he also volunteers as an usher at the St. Peter and St. Paul Church. In his spare time Deslandes enjoys playing water polo, field hockey, football and taking care of his family’s dogs.
Laurryn Sells
Laurryn Sells is a chemical engineering major at Howard University. At Howard, Sells is an active member in the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Engineers without Boarders, and the National Society of Black Engineers where she has served as the Convention Planning Chair and Treasurer. In her free time, Sells enjoys cooking, outdoor activities, and spending time with her friends and family. As a Houston, Texas native, she is passionate about diversity and inclusion as a Black woman in STEM. She believes it is important to develop pipelines to success for students of underrepresented communities who are also passionate about STEM. Currently, Sells is working to complete her third internship as a Quality Intern at Merck & Co. She has been awarded as a Howard University Capstone Scholar, a Thurgood Marshall College Fund Wells Fargo Scholar, a William A. Lawson Excellence Scholar, and a Cummins Integrated Pipeline Scholar.
Tasimba Jonga
Tasimba Jonga is studying chemical engineering and economics at the University of Tennessee. He currently serves as the Lead Ambassador at the Engineering Office of Professional Practice. His involvement across campus includes engineering clubs like NSBE, AIChE, ACS, and Toastmasters, but also business school clubs like the Professional Sales Forum and Entrepreneurship Center. He’s also heavily involved with the diversity office, having recently been recognized for his efforts with an award. Jonga has an array of industry experience spanning across the pharmaceutical, consumer health, and chemical industry as an engineering intern working for Bayer and Dow Chemical. At Bayer, he was recognized with a customer focus recognition for his work. Outside of his professional interests, Jonga also serves as a sponsor for Youth Against Aids which helps with education on HIV in Africa, having served as a student volunteer while he was still in Africa.
