Description
Created by Walt Disney World in 2007, Disney Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and ESSENCE Magazine is an annual four-day educational and mentoring program for U.S. high school students, ages 13 to 19. The 2015 event takes place March 5-8 at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Designed to inspire students to dream big, discover a world of possibilities and prepare for their future, the program allows participants – also identified as “Dreamers” – to work alongside established professionals and celebrities in hands-on, full-immersion workshops related to diverse career paths. Dreamers also participate in motivational presentations and workshops for learning important personal and professional skills, such as communication techniques and networking strategies.
Students compete for participation in the program by submitting an application and answers to a series of essay questions about their personal stories, the people who are most influential in their lives and their dreams for the future. Only 100 participants are selected each year by a panel of judges.
By the Numbers
- 10,000 Disney Dreamers Academy applications received this year
- 1,000 Disney Cast Members involved in planning this year’s program
- 900 Dreamers who have been selected for the program since its launch in 2007
- 27 States represented at this year’s event
- 13 Students from Georgia, the state with the highest representation this year, followed by 10 from Texas and 9 from Florida
- 21 Dreamers interested in starting a career in the medical field, the most popular career path amongst the students, followed by 17 Dreamers who want to start a career in business or as an entrepreneur, and 10 Dreamers who are interested in becoming an engineer
- 2 Dreamers started a non-profit organization
- 5 Dreamers run their own businesses
- 2 Dreamers, Jalia C. and Raven S., are authors who have each self-published two books for teens
- 3,100 Miles Samaria H. will travel from Tacoma, Wash., to Lake Buena Vista, Fla., to attend Disney Dreamers Academy, making her the farthest-traveling Dreamer
- 18 Miles or less Orlando-area Dreamer, Lionell W., will travel to attend Disney Dreamers Academy
- 1 Dreamer has been accepted to Harvard University
- 1 Dreamer is in final rounds of auditions to attend Juilliard
Speakers Resource Group (SRG)
The Speakers Resource Group (SRG) consists of celebrities and noted professionals who serve as year-round ambassadors for Disney Dreamers Academy, help lead workshops throughout the weekend event and serve as panel judges for the applications:
- Mikki Taylor, ESSENCE magazine editor-at-large
- Terrence J, E! News host
- Jeff Henderson, celebrity chef
- Stephen A. Smith, sports journalist
- Yolanda Adams, gospel singer
- Sonia Jackson Myles, author
- Steve Perry, CNN education contributor
- Karli Harvey, Steve Harvey Products creative director
- Brandi Harvey, Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation executive director
- Alex Ellis, Simply Ellis Custom Clothier CEO
- Jonathan Sprinkles, motivational speaker
- Princeton Parker, Disney Dreamers Academy alumnus
Additional Past and Present Celebrity Participants
- Earvin “Magic” Johnson, NBA legend
- Derrick Brooks and Warrick Dunn, NFL players
- Sean Kingston and Mary J. Blige, recording artists
- Jordin Sparks, Kimberley Locke, Ruben Studdard and Fantasia Barrino, American Idol contestants
- Sherri Shepherd, TV personality
- Star Jones, TV personality
- Rocsi Diaz, HLN correspondent
- Carla Hall, The Chew co-host
- Soledad O’Brien, CNN newscaster
- Will Packer, Hollywood film producer/director
- Roshon Fegan, Kyle Massey and CoCo Jones, Disney Channel actors
- Raven-Symoné, actress
- Lamman Rucker, actor
- Lance Gross, actor
- Laz Alonso, actor
- David and Tamela Mann, actors
- Bishop T.D. Jakes, TDJ Enterprises CEO
For more information, visit www.disneydreamersacademy.com. Regular updates about Disney Dreamers Academy are also available on social media at www.facebook.com/disneydreamersacademy or www.twitter.com/dreamersacademy.
