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Wesley Jameel Close

Biography

Highlights of Young Scholar Experience: When recalling his top experiences as a Young Scholar, Wesley Close quickly points to the four weeks he spent at the Middlebury-Monterey Language Academy. Calling it one of the best summers of his life, Wesley was “immersed in the complete Spanish culture for a month.”  There was also the Foundation’s Civic Week in Washington, DC, a five-week study trip to Italy with Experiment in International Living and a course called “What’s Up Doc”, a simulated medical school for high school students at Brown University. 

Profile: Wesley seems to have done it all -- from ballet to Boy Scouts; from track and field to the bass guitar; from creative writing classes to organizing service trips to post-Katrina New Orleans; from the Bronx to New England to attend language school.  Yes, Wesley has done it all, succeeding in everything he’s tried.  And this young man with a ton of desire and a passion for life is just scratching the surface with what he hopes to accomplish.  The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Young Scholar Program and the opportunities it offered was a perfect fit for Wesley.  Ever since he was a little fellow, Wesley’s mom pushed him to try new things.  At age five he was taking lessons at the Dance Theater of Harlem.  And that was just the start of it.  “All alone, my mother found ways to place every opportunity possible in front of me so that I had the option of choosing what made me happy; even without necessarily having the means, she made sure I knew the sky was the limit.”  Then, with the help of the Foundation, the opportunities broadened ever further.  Wesley was an honor student at the presigious Horace Mann School, was a track star, and earned Eagle Scout status. 

Inspiration: Wesley’s mother is the main reason he’s succeeded so far, and why he wants to accomplish so much more.  “School has always been my first priority because I knew it was my key to better things in life. Having a good education was the thing my mother wanted for me, and the last thing I was ever going to do was disappoint her.” 

Aspiration:  The multi-talented Wesley said he’s currently thinking about becoming a physician. 

Making a Difference: Several years after Katrina hit New Orleans, parts of the city were still devastated.  Wesley wanted his final Eagle Scout project to make a difference.  The young man helped organize a school service trip to the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans. “I never knew how much work leading an entire project could be until I was one of the four people who had to handle fundraising, flight tickets, food, networking and other details,” Wesley said. “I am in awe at the fact that we pulled off a nine day community service trip.” 

Accolades:  In addition to earning the rank of Eagle Scout, Wesley received various academic honors at Horace Mann School. 

Interesting Fact: Wesley has always loved dance and said he has the most fun when he and his older sister are dancing to reggae, dance hall, and soca music.

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