NNPA NEWSWIRE — The 16th annual event, aimed at expanding job knowledge and providing exclusive opportunities for Black students and teenagers from underserved areas across America, will draw 100 students from across the nation to Walt Disney World Resort March 23-26. The complete roster of pupils can be found at www.DisneyDreamersAcademy.com
Exclusive Walt Disney World Resort mentoring event helps Black students and teenagers from underrepresented areas realize their goals; 100 exceptional students from New York to California will participate in the multi-day event in March.
By BlackPressUSA
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — A ambitious neurosurgeon, a burgeoning artist, and an imaginative narrator are among the 100 gifted high school students chosen for this year’s Disney Dreamers Academy, an educational mentorship program held at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
The 16th annual event, aimed at expanding job knowledge and providing exclusive opportunities for Black students and teenagers from underserved areas across America, will draw 100 students from across the nation to Walt Disney World Resort March 23-26.
The complete list of students is available at http://www.DisneyDreamersAcademy.com
To start off the reveal of the 2023 class, Mickey Mouse, Disney executives, and worldwide recording sensation Kelly Rowland surprised one of the students live on national television from her school in Newark, New Jersey, with the news of her selection. Following that, the complete Class of 2023’s names were posted on a Times Square billboard.
Rowland, a four-time Grammy Award winner for her work as a vocalist, songwriter, actress, and television executive producer, acted as the program’s ambassador and champion for pupils last year. She offered personal observations based on her own distinct experiences as a pre-teen performer, then as an adolescent in Destiny’s Child, one of the best-selling female ensembles of all time.
Disney Dreamers is an essential component of Disney’s dedication to supporting diverse communities. Disney hopes that by pushing the next generation to think large, the students will take what they learn back home and pursue their goals.
For our 16th year, we’re excited to receive another exceptional group of teenagers from all over the nation, said Tracey Powell, vice president of Disney Signature Experiences and executive advocate of the Disney Dreamers Academy. They will have an unforgettable experience that will inspire them to follow in the footsteps of previous groups and pursue their goals.
Since its inception in 2008, Disney Dreamers Academy has motivated over 1,500 students from across the nation by fueling their ambitions and exposing them to a universe of possibilities as they prepare for their futures. In the years since, graduates have gone on to become storytellers, artists, architects, inventors, journalists, and more, as well as teachers to the Disney Dreamers who arrive after them.
Every year, the Disney Dreamers are chosen from among thousands of applicants who answer essay questions about their personal experiences and prospective goals. The kids and a parent or guardian are treated to an all-expenses-paid four-day vacation to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
The Disney Dreamers travel through Walt Disney World amusement parks and behind the scenes of the 40-square-mile holiday destination. It’s a lively classroom where students can explore new job paths, follow their goals, and engage with Disney execs, educators, business leaders, celebs, and inspiring speakers.
Students take part in intensive, career-oriented seminars where they learn about a variety of professional fields while also developing important skills such as effective communication techniques, leadership, and networking strategies.
Stars from the big screen and television, notable sports figures, and popular musicians, as well as personalities and cast members from across the Disney family, including “Good Morning America,” ESPN, Disney Channel, and the ABC TV shows “Black-ish” and “Grown-ish,” have previously participated.
Visit DisneyDreamersAcademy.com for more details. Regular information about Disney Dreamers Academy can be found on Facebook.com/DisneyDreamersAcademy, Twitter.com/DreamersAcademy, and Instagram.com/disneydreamersacademy.
The 100 students selected for the 2023 Disney Dreamers Academy are (listed by state):
- Chelsea Williams, Hoover, AL
- Radhika Pant, Hoover, AL
- Tyler Chiu, Northridge, CA
- Ella Milstein, La Jolla, CA
- Rashad Tyler, Highland, CA
- Ryan Nelson, Concord, CA
- Tina Mai, Newport Coast, CA
- Octavia Carey, Inglewood, CA
- Isabella Cabello, Tulare, CA
- Madison Henderson, Los Angeles, CA
- Brooke Sibala, Chula Vista, CA
- Sanvi Prakash, San Ramon, CA
- Cisco Hernandez, National City, CA
- Melanie Cho, Alhambra, CA
- April Ortiz, Anaheim, CA
- Casey Folau, Maywood, CA
- Xavier Forbes, San Diego, CA
- Allison Jensen, Thornton, CO
- Jonathan De Caro, Moodus, CT
- Yasmeen Galal, Prospect, CT
- Mary Amma Blankson, Madison, CT
- Miguel Coppedge, Washington, DC
- Sophia Juroviesky, Boca Raton, FL
- Dorsey Miller, Parkland, FL
- Zara Lwin, Orlando, FL
- Sophia Dupeyron, Cape Coral, FL
- Kaitlyn Jadevaia, Sarasota, FL
- Megan Fajardo, Destin, FL
- Kimora Reed, Saint Petersburg, FL
- Cynthia Medina, Bradenton, FL
- Cameron West, Jacksonville, FL
- Sara Kaufman, Hollywood, FL
- Noah Spinelli, Orlando, FL
- Pamela Musungu, Acworth, GA
- Zachariah Hickey, Bonaire, GA
- Ava Flanigan, Morrow, GA
- Ava Adams, Atlanta, GA
- Jordan Adeyemi, Duluth, GA
- Pippa Key, Summerville, GA
- Jaden Jenkins, Augusta, GA
- Kirasten Perkins, Savannah, GA
- Erin Shen, Statesboro, GA
- Dylan Jones, Smyrna, GA
- Bradley Ross Jackson, Normal, IL
- Tamaya Mcneal, Joliet, IL
- Nora Sun, Chicago, IL
- Nyla Bishop, Flossmoor, IL
- Aramia Gutierrez, Whiting, IN
- Jaylynn Powe, Baton Rouge, LA
- Charles Steele, Slidell, LA
- Audrey Brust, Zachary, LA
- Tasneem Ghadiali, Lexington, MA
- Xin Yue Lu, Lutherville Timonium, MD
- Aria Smith, Upper Marlboro, MD
- Lindsey Sands, Columbia, MD
- Makayla Joaquin, Fort Washington, MD
- Saniyah Ikard, Bowie, MD
- Natalyn Taylor, Ellicott City, MD
- Julian Morris, Saginaw, MI
- Keenan Burns, Redford, MI
- Preston Zabinko, Ann Arbor, MI
- Addison Richmond, Jackson, MI
- Kennedy Jones, Berkeley, MO
- Zania Stinson, Charlotte, NC
- Jada Stewart, Wilson, NC
- Ryan Razon, Morrisville, NC
- Mosope Aina, Newark, NJ
- Elise Tao, Upper Saddle River, NJ
- Maria Maione, Egg Harbor City, NJ
- Claudia Merchan, Hackensack, NJ
- Amechi Chukwujiorah-Strange, Flushing, NY
- Autumn Tyler, Chester, NY
- Morgan Lin, Brooklyn, NY
- Emily Melendez, Rego Park, NY
- Logan Williams, Cleveland, OH
- Sophia Barbee, Maineville, OH
- Mckinley Meeker, Hudson, OH
- Kyle Zhou, Solon, OH
- Aziza Mccarter, Jenks, OK
- Neighujah Harmon, Oklahoma City, OK
- Amelia Godard, Sherwood, OR
- Eliza Watkins, Portland, OR
- Anjana Pramod, West Chester, PA
- Prerna Chakkingal, Mc Donald, PA
- Joslyn Diffenbaugh Kutztown, PA
- Tavis Sanders, Philadelphia, PA
- Sydney Simmons, Tiverton, RI
- Benjamin Brown, Columbia, SC
- Hannah Hollings, Brentwood, TN
- Toluwakitan Akinsola, Antioch, TN
- Sydney Roberts, Plano, TX
- Yaddeni Hailu, Lewisville, TX
- Shane Mushambi, Missouri City, TX
- Medha Pulluru, Cedar Park, TX
- Alvaro Alvarez, Elgin, TX
- Elle Chavis, Dallas, TX
- Nia Curry, Trophy Club, TX
- Tierra Brown, Pearland, TX
- Eliora Margaret Kwakye, Olympia, WA
- Julius Zakaria, Oak Creek, WI
About Disney Dreamers Academy:
The mission of Disney Dreamers Academy, which was founded by Walt Disney World in 2008, is to inspire young leaders to dream beyond imagination by providing life-long access to personalised support for the Disney Dreamer, their caregivers, and community through insightful content and uplifting experts, mentors, and sponsors. Every year, 100 high school students are selected to attend the intensive and changing program at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.