Last weekend I was given the opportunity to attend & cover the 12th annual Disney Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and ESSENCE Magazine at Walt Disney World.
Being at this event is always the highlight of my year for two reasons:
- I get to see 100 kids realize their dreams can come true through hands-on experiments, workshops, networking with celebrities, corporate executives, and most important meeting like-minded students from all over the country.
- I am re-charged, re-motivated and I am ready to go harder for my dreams every time I leave the Disney Dreamers Academy. There is no expiration date on dreams!
(Gregg Newton, photographer)
The Disney Dreamers Academy started in 2007 and over the past 12 years, there are have been 1,200 teens that have come through this career-inspiration program. Many have gone on to do great things. When you’re at Disney Dreamers and meet these teens, you already see the light in their eyes and know their future is bright.
The last day of the Academy is the graduation ceremony. There are always awards given out. However, this years class was so impressive there were surprise awards that had the audience in tears.
Let’s meet some amazing Disney Dreamers:
Students Anthony Juba-Richardson from Winter Garden, Fla., Jasmine Bell from Charlotte, N.C. and Devan Smith from Marietta, Ga. receive awards during Disney Dreamers Academy commencement. (Todd Anderson, photographer)
Anthony Juba-Richardson from Winter Garden, Fla. receives the Dreamer of the Year Award at Disney Dreamers Academy commencement (Todd Anderson, photographer)
Devan Smith from Marietta, Ga. is presented with the Courage Award at the commencement of the 12th annual Disney Dreamers Academy at Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort (Gregg Newton, photographer)
Kynnedy Smith from Shaker Heights, Ohio shows off her violin talent during Disney Dreamers Academy commencement and had us all on our feet. (Todd Anderson, photographer)
Anthony Juba-Richardson from Winter Garden, Fla. and Mary Yeboah from College Park, Ga. received the Ne-Yo Entertainment Award. They will be flown to L.A. to have a recording session with Ne-Yo. (Gregg Newton, photographer)
Steve Harvey poses for a selfie with Disney Dreamers during commencement. (Gregg Newton, photographer)
Meet Amiyah Adams, she’s a 15-year-old freshman from St. Petersburg, Fl. Amiah has goals of becoming a Perioperative Nurse in the US Army and to serve her country as a Miltary Officer.
Her activities are:
- Army JROTC
- Zeta Phi Beta Youth Auxiliary, where she serves as President
- Keystone Teen Leadership Club where she serves as Vice President
- Allstar cheerleading with the Angel Elite Squad
Disney Dreamers Academy Applications are Open
Your teen can now apply for Disney Dreamers Academy 2020 at https://www.disneydreamersacademy.com/ The age requirements are 13-19 years old, and must be in high school. Good luck to you and your future dreamer!
