WDW Resort and Steve Harvey Inspire Teens Through Disney�s Dreamers Academy 2009 Class
100 Nationwide High School Students Selected to Attend
Innovative Learning Environment
at Walt Disney World Resort
(December 12, 2008) Walt Disney World Resort, in
partnership with nationally syndicated radio personality Steve Harvey, today
announced its selection of 100 nationwide high school students to participate
in the Disney�s Dreamers Academy of 2009. Selected students and a
guardian will travel to Walt Disney World Resort to take part in an innovative
career inspiration program that includes interactive workshops, motivational
talks, hands-on creative experiences and fun. The program will take place
February 12-15, 2009, during national Black History Month.
�With the nation�s attention on change and a spirit
of renewed hope, we are very pleased with the excitement centered on this
year�s Disney�s Dreamers Academy and the overwhelming enthusiasm it has
generated from young people spanning America,� said Xiomara Wiley, a
vice president of marketing at Disney Destinations. �We
want to educate and open doors for our young dreamers by helping them to
realize the power within and inspiring them to discover their dreams and
follow them wherever they lead.�
Celebrating its second �Dreamers Class,� the Disney�s
Dreamers Academy reaches out nationwide to teens, grades 9-12, extolling the
virtues of preparing for the future. The program�s aim is to expose teens to
creative and nontraditional career opportunities in everything from culinary
arts to animation, set design and show production to the business of sports,
while inspiring them to exceed the boundaries of their dreams and
imaginations.
The Steve Harvey Morning Show conducted the Dreamer�s Contest to
identify the participants in Disney�s Dreamers
Academy. This program was created for high school students who show promise �
but may need additional motivational support to excel.
However, all of the selected students share a trait: the power to DREAM.
Parents, teachers, school administrators, church groups and even the students
themselves nominated more than 4,000 aspiring dreamers from across the nation
for the program.
�The Walt Disney World organization has been a great partner in this
initiative, and their commitment to providing students with a once in a life
time experience, such as Disney�s Dreamers Academy, is commendable,� said
Steve Harvey. �Together, we have the ability to enhance the lives of these
deserving kids by showing them that there are many ways to follow your
dreams.�
During Disney�s Dreamers Academy, students are given
unprecedented access to the magic behind Walt Disney World Resort. As
part of their experience this group of dreamers will participate in
interactive workshops focusing on a variety of subjects including Walt
Disney Imagineering techniques, entertainment, the
business of sports, culinary arts, and more. Disney cast members, executives
and celebrities will share their blueprints for success. Participants will
also explore Disney�s theme parks and then end their special weekend with a
graduation ceremony where a special guest will deliver a motivational address.
Participants in this year�s Disney�s Dreamers Academy class were selected by a
distinguished panel of judges including: Harvey; Wiley; Rushion McDonald
(executive producer of the Steve Harvey Morning Show); Reverend Randolph Bracy
(president of the NAACP, Orlando); Dr. Trudie Kibbe Reed (president, Bethune-Cookman
University); Terrence J. (host of BET 106 & Park); Eugene Campbell (vice
president of community relations & minority business development, Walt Disney
World Resort); Steve Smith (NBA TV analyst/Ex-NBA player); Stephen A. Smith
(ESPN Radio host/sports journalist); Cassie Davis (actress, �Tyler Perry�s
House of Payne�); Mark Hayes (WAGA-TV anchor, Fox Atlanta); and Eduardo
Correia (director, Kodak Multicultural Marketing).
The Disney�s Dreamer Academy was launched in 2007. For more information visit
http://steveharvey.com/disneysdreamersacademy/.
-- Posted December 16, 2008