Fifteen years ago, Walt Disney World started the Disney Dreamers Academy Program, which provides mentorship events that foster the dreams of Black students and teens from underrepresented communities, and it’s about to welcome a whole new class of students.
Each year the Disney Dreamers are selected from thousands of applicants who answer essay questions about their personal stories and dreams for the future. The students and a parent or guardian are given an all-expenses paid trip to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida to attend the annual event.
During the four-day event, the 100 students selected for the annual program participate in sessions teaching valuable life tools such as leadership skills, effective communication techniques, and networking strategies. They also experience in-depth career workshops in a variety of disciplines aligned with the students’ dreams.
March 3-6, this year’s program will introduce the high school students to an array of new immersions designed to continue to foster the dreams of young leaders, including career-building workshops, networking sessions, mentorship connections, and introductions to future professional opportunities at The Walt Disney Company and beyond.
In a new initiative, Disney Dreamers Academy, in partnership with ESPN’s The Undefeated and GRAMMY-nominated rap artist Cordae, is also awarding college scholarships to 11 students from underrepresented communities attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
The Disney Dreamers program is an important part of Disney’s commitment to supporting diverse communities, by encouraging the next generation to think big and to carry what they learn back with them, so they can pursue their dreams and make a difference in the lives of others.
Since 2008, Disney Dreamers Academy has inspired more than 1,300 students from across the country by fueling their dreams and showing them a world of possibilities as they prepare for their futures.
In the years following, graduates have gone on to become doctors, nurses, engineers, pilots, journalists, and more. Some have even transitioned into mentors to the Disney Dreamers who follow them, including event speaker Princeton Parker (Class of 2011), who is now a Disney cast member.
“We are excited and honored to celebrate 15 years of Disney Dreamers Academy with this year’s class,” said Tracey D. Powell, Walt Disney World Resort Vice President and Disney Dreamers Academy executive champion. “We’ve embraced this opportunity to amplify the event, and we’re thrilled to introduce new experiences, new career programs and new mentors.”
For more information, visit DisneyDreamersAcademy.com
Here are the 100 students selected to participate in the 2022 Disney Dreamers Academy. We wish them all the best on this exciting opportunity!
Alabama
- Tylor Anderson, Mobile
- Ava Cocke, Fairhope
- Nolan Hatcher, Birmingham
- Mackenzie Hill, Hazel Green
- Jaynie Turner, Helena
Arizona
- Annalise Jones, Mesa
- Prisha Shroff, Chandler
California
- Jamila Abdelkarim, Fullerton
- Roi Clinton, Manhattan Beach
- Kayli Joy Cooper, Studio City
- Kevin Gonzalez Ramirez, San Diego
- Katherine Lawler. Livermore
- Alex Zhang, Cupertino
Colorado
- Caleb Hatch, Colorado Springs
- Sophia Mitsuoka, Centennial
Florida
- Ramon Abreu, Windermere
- Christianna Alexander, Jacksonville
- Zachary Andrews, Jacksonville
- Javier Lageyre, Weston
- Isabella Puglisi, Miami Shores
- Roxie Richbourg, Orlando
- Khushi Talluru, Lakewood Ranch
- McKenzie Williams, Boca Raton
Georgia
- Amia Georges, Marietta
- MiCai Haywood, Fairburn
- Azriel Melvin, Atlanta
- Nathanael Occilien-Similien, Covington
- Ryann Richards, Powder Springs
- Ilarose Robinson, Riverdale
- Abigail Smith, Statesboro
- Jordyn Spencer, Atlanta
- Cedaisia Talton, Fort Valley
Illinois
- Kayla Nelson, Frankfort
- Reagan Sturgis, Cambridge Cty
Kansas
- Alison Yee, Leawood
Louisiana
- Elizabeth Garder, Mandeville
- Hrilina Rakhs, Gretna
Maryland
- Lance Carr, Clarksburg
- Amber Johnson, Oxon Hill
- Kaiya Jones, Ellicott City
- Olivia Jones, Silver Spring
- Danielle Nelson, Columbia
- Caleb Oh, Gambrills
- Kemery Oparah, Clinton
- CiaRa Sejour, Ft Washington
- Whitley Shields, Fort Washington
Massachusetts
- Rose Warfield, Grafton
Michigan
- Alexis Cornett, Highland
- Miyana Holden, Bloomfield Hills
- Sean Shelbrock, Montrose
Minnesota
- Maxwell Parney, Rochester
Missouri
- Michael Wren, Florissant
New Jersey
- Darius Brown, Newark
- Alexis Halm, South Orange
- Kendall Henderson, Robbinsville
- Diya Nair, Avenel
- Denia Smith, Belle Mead
New York
- Justin Alvarez, New York
- Naeema Baksh, Rosedale
- Cyruss Bell, Rochester
- Aaliyah Summons, Port Jervis
- Michael Taggart, Jamaica
- Malaya Talavera, Hicksville
- Sanaalee Troupe, Uniondale
- Elsa Woodarek, Ellicottville
- Darcie Wu, New York
- Abibat Akinyele Yusifu, Bronx
North Carolina
- Bryce Allen, Charlotte
- Justin Fountain, Winston Salem
- Joshua Hanflink, Greensboro
- Journi Kirby, Concord
- Britney Nyabaro, Wake Forest
- Maya Roseboro, Wilmington
Ohio
- Meghana Boda, Lewis Center
- Skylar Blumenauer, Massillon
- Isabella Green, Cleveland
- Annabel Long, Bexley
- Nolan Pastore, Hartville
Oklahoma
- Emma Jeffrey, Yukon
Oregon
- Kyler Wang, Portland
Pennsylvania
- Arianna Gaiter, Pittsburgh
- Victoria Ren, Sewickley
- Zachary Sullivan, Pittsburgh
- Bethany Washington, Hanover
South Carolina
- Cadence Brown, Williston
- Tyra Jefferson, Columbia
Texas
- Maya Burns, McKinney
- Marcus Drake, Rockwall
- Samuel Draper, Converse
- Theodore Hervey, San Antonio
- Elizabeth Mielke, Prosper
- Baani Sandhu, Irving
- Andre Scott, Humble
- Mason Thenor, Cypress
- Destiny Weeden, Killeen
Virginia
- Kortney Bostic, Shenandoah
- Myles Bracey-Hairston, Lorton
- Samantha Haywood, Vienna
- Audrey Zorrilla, Midlothian
Washington
- Simmi Sen, Vancouver
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