“I’m Going to Disney World!’’ Teens Surprised Live on “Good Morning America’’ with Mentoring Trip to Disney Dreamers Academy

Teens from California, Texas, New Jersey and Virginia among 100 high school students selected from thousands across country to participate in coveted mentoring event at Disney in March
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Jan. 15, 2018 – Five high school students were surprised live on “Good Morning America’’ today with the announcement that they were selected to be part of the exclusive Disney Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and ESSENCE Magazine.
Mickey Mouse and Walt Disney World Resort executive Tracey D. Powell joined the “Good Morning America’’ hosts and the studio audience for the surprise moment. National TV personality Steve Harvey also congratulated the teens on their accomplishment with a video message.
Surprised live on-air were Ayanna Adams from Los Angeles, Christiana Okafor from Houston, Marquis Thomas from Virginia Beach, Va., Ava Marie Easter from Los Angeles and Sean Smith from Basking Ridge, N.J.
The students, who sported T-shirts featuring the program’s new logo during the surprise moment, are among 100 extraordinary youths from across the nation announced by Disney today to participate in its immersive, transformational four-day program, March 8-11, at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
The program, which is entering its 11th year with a new “Be100’’ campaign, highlights Walt Disney World Resort’s continued commitment to the next generation of teens by inspiring them at a critical time in their development to make a difference in their lives and to relentlessly pursue and realize their dreams.
“Each of these 100 girls and boys has proven themselves to be exceptional as students and as human beings, so it’s an honor to have them join us at Walt Disney World Resort,’’ said Tracey D. Powell, Walt Disney World Resort vice president of commercial management – resorts and Disney Dreamers Academy executive champion. “It is our hope that this potentially life-changing program will help create the next generation of great dreamers and achievers.’’
Participating students, known as “Disney Dreamers,” embark on a journey throughout the Disney theme parks and behind the scenes, turning the vacation destination into a vibrant classroom for students to discover new careers, pursue their dreams and interact with Harvey and other motivational speakers and celebrities. Among the celebrities who have participated in the past are singers Patti LaBelle and Mary J. Blige, NBA legend and business mogul Magic Johnson, gospel music star Yolanda Adams, NFL superstar Cam Newton, plus TV personalities such as “The Chew’’ co-host Carla Hall, “Good Morning America’’ co-anchor Michael Strahan and ABC correspondent T.J. Holmes.
Additionally, students participate in hands-on, immersive career-oriented workshops, ranging from animation to zoology. Each student is given important tools such as effective communication techniques, leadership skills and networking strategies.
“Inspiring our youth to dream big and chase those dreams is a personal mission,” said Harvey. “Having a dream is one of the most important things in life. That is why engaging with these students is an annual highlight for me, and the 2018 Disney Dreamers Academy will be no exception.”
Since 2008, Walt Disney World Resort has provided all-expenses-paid trips to more than 1,000 students, plus a parent or guardian, to participate in the annual Disney Dreamers Academy.  The students are selected from thousands of applicants who answered a series of essay questions about their personal stories and dreams for the future.
“At ESSENCE, we are committed to impacting the leaders of tomorrow,” said Michelle Ebanks, president of ESSENCE Communications. “Every year, we continue to be impressed by the exceptional students selected for Disney Dreamers Academy, and it is our privilege to play a role in encouraging them to achieve their goals.’’
For more information, visit DisneyDreamersAcademy.com. Regular updates about Disney Dreamers Academy are also available on social media at Facebook/DisneyDreamersAcademy or Twitter/DreamersAcademy.
Here are more details about the five students surprised on “Good Morning America’’:
Ayanna Adams, 16 – Los Angeles – Adams’s father was incarcerated when she was 6. Inspired by her mother’s work ethic and commitment, Adams started working at 13 to help support her family. Despite juggling work and school, Adams currently holds a 3.2 GPA and dreams of going to college to earn a job that will allow her to take care of her mother.
Ava Marie Easter, 14 – Los Angeles – Easter is both an accomplished student and dancer.  Despite her family experiencing homelessness in the past, Easter’s spirit has always remained strong. She has earned acceptance to both the LA County High School for the Arts and Millennium Dance Complex to pursue her passion. She dreams of going to Julliard and studying biology at Columbia and Barnard.
Christiana Okafor, 16 – Houston – Okafor dreams of becoming a doctor, graduating as valedictorian and attending an Ivy League School. Currently, she has a 4.3 GPA and is involved in numerous extracurricular activities. She was recently nominated to represent her home state of Texas at the Congress of Future Medical Leaders. Inspired by speakers at the conference, she hopes to one day make breakthroughs to help those suffering from autoimmune diseases with no cure.
Marquis Thomas, 15 – Virginia Beach, Va. – Recognized as the Virginia Beach Youth of the Year for his work in the local Police Explorers program, Thomas dreams of working in law enforcement. He is inspired to fight crime after the uncle that served as a father figure to him was killed. 
Sean Smith, 14 – Basking Ridge, N.J. – An encounter with a real-life war hero inspired Smith to pursue a career in aviation. He attended an event where Tuskegee Airman Eugene Robinson was a speaker.  After the event, Robinson gave Smith the uniform hat off his head and signed it. That moment led Smith to follow in the footsteps of the Tuskegee Airmen and he has been taking flight lessons since 6th grade and is a member of his local aerospace club.  
###
The 100 students selected to participate in the 2018 Disney Dreamers Academy are:

MIDWEST

Mariah
Barnett
Aurora
IL

Tabitha
Willis
Country Club Hills
IL

Tamera
Trimuel
Harvey
IL

Jayvion
Rice
Riverdale
IL

Chloe
Russell
Indianapolis
IN

Derrick
Lotharp
Belleville
MI

John
Garrett
Beverly Hills
MI

Anna
Sun
Canton
MI

Joshua
Fields
Detroit
MI

Kyle
Mcbeth
Southfield
MI

Elena
Hirsch
West Bloomfield
MI

Boston
Meeker
Hudson
OH

Colston
Urban
Marietta
OH

Brooklynn
Gross
Sioux Falls
SD

Rahsaan
Roberson-Teague
Milwaukee
WI

NORTHEAST

Darius
Martin
Hamden
CT

Thomas
Cahill
Canton
MA

Matthew
Thompson
Canton
MA

Lillian
Carr
Clarksburg
MD

Nina
Crosby Walton
Frederick
MD

Ryan
Steed
Glenn Dale
MD

Maria
Gakdeng
Lanham
MD

Sean
Smith
Basking Ridge
NJ

Kathryn
Stevens
Hornell
NY

Maxwell
Haseman
Carlisle
PA

Angela
McKeown
Edwardsville
PA

Brijette
Brown
Philadelphia
PA

Aneesah
Robinson
Philadelphia
PA

SOUTHEAST

Skylar
Boone
Dothan
AL

Braxton
Hunt
Mobile
AL

Victoria
Hardy
Pike Road
AL

Destyni
Newson
Tuscaloosa
AL

Malachi
Hobbs
Cocoa
FL

Lebarron
Johnson
Jacksonville
FL

Andy
Rajkumar
Ocoee
FL

Eamilia
Barrington
Orlando
FL

Q Markis
Brooks
Port St Lucie
FL

Jackson
Stewart
Port St Lucie
FL

Madison
Smith
Riverview
FL

Giulietta
Schutte
St Petersburg
FL

Luis
Lageyre Rivas
Weston
FL

Sally
Campbell
Zephyrhills
FL

Sarah
Oburu
Acworth
GA

Celeste
Giddens
Atlanta
GA

Jazzmyne
Ashworth
Calhoun
GA

Jaterria
Hicks
Cartersville
GA

Joshua
Brown
Darien
GA

Joshua
Boyce
Hampton
GA

TaMya
Woodard
Lawrenceville
GA

Ariel
Dildy
Lithonia
GA

Ashton
Peoples
McDonough
GA

Deka
Bonner
Snellville
GA

Kelli
Crews
Stockbridge
GA

Lauren
Moyer
Stockbridge
GA

Kayla
Brown
Suwanee
GA

Chasidy
Moore
Valdosta
GA

DeLon
Henderson
Woodstock
GA

Jimmy
Shaw
Winnsboro
LA

Sarah
Hardy
Bentonia
MS

Jordan
Purvis
Durham
NC

Joshua
Hill
Greensboro
NC

Jessica
Dickerson
Huntersville
NC

RoethaKijafa
Hunter
Winterville
NC

Angel
Cooke
Camden
SC

Casey
Carter
Columbia
SC

John
Jeffery
Columbia
SC

Destiny
Gadson
Cross
SC

Mia
Williams
Florence
SC

Tyler
Parrott
Mount Pleasant
SC

Jhamar
Rivers-Bradley
Summerville
SC

Aaliyah
Sweat
Murfreesboro
TN

Wyatt
Carter
Chesterfield
VA

Stephanie
Brown
Manassas
VA

Kody
Frye
Manassas
VA

Isaiah
Wilson
Portsmouth
VA

Jordan
Anderson-Murray
Richmond
VA

Sarah
Schaefer
Stafford
VA

Marquis
Thomas
Virginia Beach
VA

WEST/SOUTHWEST

Hudson
Osborne
Hayward
CA

Nada
Dalati
La Verne
CA

KeiLana
Wall
Lodi
CA

Ayanna
Adams
Los Angeles
CA

Omarri
Beck
Los Angeles
CA

Ava Marie
Easter
Los Angeles
CA

Sheila
Milon
Los Angeles
CA

Jervaughn
Gaines
Murrieta
CA

Insun
Choi
Riverside
CA

Anh
Le
San Jose
CA

Madelyn
Necochea
Temecula
CA

PhuongUyen
Nguyen
Torrance
CA

Maia
Dua
West Sacramento
CA

Moyleang
Taing
Bridge City
TX

Ryan
Solis
El Paso
TX

Taylor
Hayes
Houston
TX

Christiana
Okafor
Houston
TX

Toi
Williams
Plano
TX

Julian
Hudspeth
San Antonio
TX

Luckaia
Strand
Cedar City
UT

Natasha
Rodriguez
Centralia
WA

Mikayla
Weary
Edmonds
WA

Media Contacts:
Walt Disney World Resort
Reggie Roberts, Public Relations Manager
Reginald.D.Roberts@disney.com
(407) 566-7198 or (407) 353-8848
TJM Communications, Inc.
Joel Kaiman, joel@tjmcommunications.com
(352) 262-3457 or (407) 977-5004
Katie Neumann, katie@tjmcommunications.com
(407) 977-5004
Source: WDW Feed