Walt Disney World Resort Announces The 100 Students Selected for 4th Disney’s Dreamers Academy

Walt Disney World Resort, Steve Harvey
and Essence Magazine Announce the 100 Students Selected for Fourth
Disney’s Dreamers Academy

 

High School Teens from Coast to Coast Will Attend the Ultimate Outside-the-Classroom Education Experience

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Dec. 7, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — Walt Disney World Resort, in collaboration with nationally syndicated radio personality Steve Harvey
and Essence Magazine, the leading communications company dedicated to
African-American women, has announced the selection of 100 high school
students from across the country to participate in Disney’s Dreamers Academy class of 2011. Dreamers will travel to Walt Disney World Resort in March 2011
to participate in immersive workshops focusing on a variety of subjects
including Walt Disney Imagineering techniques, entertainment,
entrepreneurship, and culinary arts. Disney experts, world renowned
entrepreneurs and celebrities will share their blueprints for success,
upholding the program’s mission to motivate, empower and inspire young
adults.

Tracey Walters-Powell,
executive champion of the program for Disney Parks & Resorts, said,
“Disney’s Dreamers Academy is a perfect platform to further the goal,
shared by Disney Parks, Essence Communications and – it goes without
saying – by Steve Harvey, to inspire children. We are genuinely excited about the possibilities ahead.”

Walt Disney World Resorts and Steve Harvey developed Disney’s Dreamers Academy
in an effort to unveil a world of possibilities, inspire teens to dream
big and help them to get started on their career paths. Launched in
2007, the program was designed to motivate high school students in
grades 9-12 to achieve their dreams personally and professionally.
Earlier this fall, parents, teachers, school administrators, church
groups and students nominated thousands of aspiring Dreamers for the
program. The criteria used to select the Dreamers included exhibiting
curiosity, compassion and leadership skills. Selected students, no
matter their background, share common traits: the power to BELIEVE and
DREAM. The program allows teens the opportunity to learn the process
through which to attain their goals.

“Each year we
strive to find young people who may have a will or passion, but may not
have the courage to explore their dreams.” Harvey said. “So we hope to
unlock the power that will allow them to pursue their hearts’ desires. Walt Disney World,
Essence Magazine and I are excited to be a part of these young
Dreamers’ experience that will encourage them to bring their dreams to
life.”

Disney’s Dreamers Academy
is dedicated to the complete advancement of youth. The goal is for each
participant to leave knowing that no Dream is too far-fetched. These
students and their parent or guardian will be given unprecedented access
to the enchantment behind Walt Disney World Resort.

Earlier this year Essence Communications joined forces with Disney parks and Steve Harvey to help take Disney’s Dreamers Academy to the “next level.”

Essence Communications President Michelle Ebanks said, “Essence is closely aligned with Disney and Steve Harvey
in supporting the mission of Disney’s Dreamers Academy and its
commitment to positively impacting our youth. Disney’s Dreamers Academy
is helping teens take steps in the right direction, and we want to be
right there with the students, both encouraging them and sharing their
stories.”

Participants for the 2011 Disney’s Dreamers Academy class were selected by a distinguished panel of judges including: Steve Harvey; Yolanda Adams (Gospel Music Legend); Angela Burt-Murray (former editor-in-chief, Essence Magazine); Dr. Steve Perry (Education Advocate and CNN commentator); Dalonte Hall (DDA Dreamer, Class of 2010); Terrence J (MTV Personality); Carole Munroe (Director of Media Relations, Disney Parks & Resorts); Tracey Powell (Director of Pricing, Disney Parks & Resorts); Stella Ringer (Marketing Manager, The Coca-Cola Company); Lorraine Robertson (Blogger) and Stephen A. Smith (Broadcaster/Sports Analyst).

Thirteen students from New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., who missed the 2010 program due to inclement weather have been invited to experience the magic of Disney’s Dreamers Academy along with the 2011 class.

The 2011 Disney’s Dreamers Academy will take place March 3-6, 2011, at Walt Disney World Resort, near Orlando in central Florida. The complete list of the 2011 class is below. For more information, visit http://www.disneysdreamersacademy.com.

The following students have been selected to participate* in the 2011 Disney’s Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and Essence Magazine:



Student Name

City

State


Alexis Coates

Auburn

AL


Deundray Cottrell

Birmingham

AL


Shanice Alexander

Casa Grande

AZ


Princeton Parker

Los Angeles

CA


Maresja Bray

Los Angeles

CA


Brittany Dunn

Rancho Cordova

CA


Alanah Grisham

San Diego

CA


Rufus Humphrey

Inglewood

CA


Lester Coffield

Washington

DC


John Tucker

Washington

DC


Denzel Wilson

Washington

DC


Lansana Donzo

Claymont

DE


Angel Gardner

Bear

DE


Jakiha Johnson

Wilmington

DE


Lavelle Pauls

Dover

DE


Cheylan Abernathy

Windermere

FL


Khari Anthony

Davie

FL


Michael Balcom

Naples

FL


Andrew Bush

Pinellas Park

FL


Shakeana Clark

Apopka

FL


Za’quari Johnson

Hollywood

FL


Christeanna Lalla

Orange Park

FL


Wayne Lyons

Fort Lauderdale

FL


Dalvin McHome

Riviera Beach

FL


De’Mia Middleton

Brandon

FL


Chante Rodgers

Orlando

FL


Chardeni Shelton

Brandon

FL


Alexis Sheppard

Orlando

FL


Diamond Sims

Miami

FL


Mark West

Tampa

FL


Taiya Deria

Lithonia

GA


Tiana Gainey

Soperton

GA


Antonia Green

Darien

GA


Briana Gude

Fayetteville

GA


Nautica Mitchell

Alpharetta

GA


Brandon Paul

Union City

GA


Jone Sagoes

McDonough

GA


Ashlynn Stodghill

Fairburn

GA


Simone Wood

East Point

GA


Aun’Jelika Buchanan

Chicago

IL


Alexandria Butler

Romeoville

IL


Lonnel Fowlkes

Plainfield

IL


Kendall Grady

Chicago

IL


Robyn Gregg

Chicago

IL


Kenyatta Holmes

Chicago

IL


Haroon Lewis

Chicago

IL


Laryssa Rollins

Matteson

IL


Lyric Simms

Champaign

IL


Brianna Sullivan

Riverdale

IL


Allisa Bryant

Merillville

IN


Avery Davis

Gary

IN


Taeler Jackson

Topeka

KS


Chad Davis

New Orleans

LA


Raina Houston

New Orleans

LA


Ashlyn Pinkins

Gretna

LA


Laward Smith

New Orleans

LA


Chassity Walker

Avondale

LA


Xy’Quarrius Webster

Lafayette

LA


Jared Adams

Owings

MD


Brianna Bazemore

Temple Hills

MD


Ta’Shawn Black

Capitol Heights

MD


Naadira Brooks

Suitland

MD


TeAna Brown

Salisbury

MD


Clairmont Huggins

Bowie

MD


Chelsea Scott

Ft. Washington

MD


Tevontae Abraham

Saginaw

MI


Tierney Byrd

Detroit

MI


Demetrius Jackson

Detroit

MI


Layla White

Detroit

MI


Tonio Magee

Silvercreek

MS


Latosha Blizzard

Wilson

NC


Jasmine Kirby

Charlotte

NC


Destinee Wilson

Fayetteville

NC


Amaka Amaechi

Plainfield

NJ


Dashana Collins

Irvington

NJ


Brenaea Flucas

Willingboro

NJ


A’Dorian Murray-Thomas

Newark

NJ


Kiana Smiling

North Plainfield

NJ


Isaiah Wesley

Somerset

NJ


Patricia Albright

Camillus

NY


Tonea Barnett

Philadelphia

PA


Nyilah Jamison-Myers

Orangeburg

SC


Virginia Wright

Columbia

SC


Tachele Anderson

Memphis

TN


Dehattcia Bradd

Memphis

TN


Christopher Yancy

Memphis

TN


Joseph Jacques

Fort Worth

TX


Alysia Johnson

Rowlett

TX


Jordan Murrell

Benbrook

TX


Ki’ara Torrence

Euless

TX


Jose Villagomez

McAllen

TX


Emily Burns

South Ogden

UT


Christopher Allen

Virginia Beach

VA


Denise Dailey

Suffolk

VA


Ashley Johnson

Stafford

VA


Tiara Miles

Arlington

VA


David Miller

Bealeton

VA


Briaun Rooks

Newport News

VA


Jacob Rugen

Ashburn

VA


Tiffani Spruill

Newport News

VA







*Participation is subject to verification and return of the required documentation.

Walt Disney World Resort

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