Outstanding Group of 100 Teens Selected from Among Thousands to Take Part in 2019 Disney Dreamers Academy

High school students will receive all-expenses-paid trip to Disney to participate in coveted mentoring event in March with Steve Harvey and ESSENCE Magazine
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Jan. 14, 2019) –Today, Walt Disney World Resort revealed the 100 extraordinary youths from across the nation who will participate in the 2019 Disney Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and ESSENCE Magazine. Each student receives an all-expenses-paid trip to Walt Disney World to participate in an immersive, transformational four-day experience that will take place March 21-24.
The program, now in its 12th year, is an important part of Disney’s commitment to helping the next generation of young people by inspiring them at a critical time in their development. The Disney Dreamers Academy theme is “Be100,” encouraging teens to be positive, to be “all in” and to carry what they learn back with them, so they can relentlessly pursue their dreams and make a difference in the lives of others.
“These students are in for a life-changing experience,” said Tracey D. Powell, Walt Disney World Resort vice president and Disney Dreamers Academy executive champion. “Our goal is to help them see the unlimited possibilities and to inspire them to achieve their full purpose. To become the heroes of their own stories.”
Participating students, known as “Disney Dreamers,” embark on a journey that takes them throughout the Disney theme parks and behind the scenes of this 40-square-mile vacation destination. Walt Disney World becomes a vibrant classroom where students discover new career opportunities, pursue their dreams and interact with Harvey and other celebrities and motivational speakers. Celebrities who have participated in the past include singers Patti LaBelle and Ne-Yo, NBA legend and business mogul Magic Johnson, gospel music star Yolanda Adams, actor Jussie Smollett, plus TV personalities such as celebrity chef Carla Hall and “Good Morning America’’ co-anchor Michael Strahan.
Additionally, students participate in immersive career-oriented workshops that range from animation to zoology. Each student is also given important life tools such as effective communication techniques, leadership skills and networking strategies.
“Having a dream is one of the most important things in life.  My success is a direct result of dreaming big,” said Harvey. “It is my passion to help others dream bigger and to give them the tools to achieve those dreams.  That is why I enjoy partnering with Disney on this program every year.”
 Since 2008, Walt Disney World Resort has provided all-expenses-paid trips to more than 1,100 students, plus a parent or guardian, to participate in the annual Disney Dreamers Academy. Students are selected from thousands of applicants who answered a series of essay questions about their personal stories and dreams for the future.
“We have a remarkable group of students attending this year,” said Michelle Ebanks, Chief Executive Officer of Essence Communications Inc. “At ESSENCE, we embrace the mission of inspiring the next generation of leaders, and we’re looking forward to partnering with Disney once again to cultivate greatness in the 2019 class.”
For more information, visit DisneyDreamersAcademy.com. Regular updates about Disney Dreamers Academy are also available on social media at Facebook.com/DisneyDreamersAcademy, Twitter.com/DreamersAcademy and Instagram.com/disneydreamersacademy.
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The 100 students selected to participate in the 2019 Disney Dreamers Academy are (listed by state):

First
Last
City
State

Holden
Dunlap
Abbeville
AL

Kendall
Moore
Mobile
AL

Cameron
Ware
Pinson
AL

Hannah
Irby
Tuscaloosa
AL

Hanna
Sha
Vestavia
AL

Pranav
Kishore
Elk Grove
CA

Monica
Tavassoli
Irvine
CA

Zac
Adler
Long Beach
CA

Gerard
Legaspi
Long Beach
CA

Rachel
Clinton
Manhattan Beach
CA

Reagan
Smith
Oceanside
CA

Karina
Garcia Ortiz
San Diego
CA

Jazmine
Livian
Spreckels
CA

Arianna
Cabada
Tustin
CA

Kieran
Doolabh
Danbury
CT

Lauren
Taylor
Washington
DC

Jacqueline
Means
Wilmington
DE

Julia
Shepherd
Apopka
FL

Marlon
Griggs
Jacksonville
FL

Faith
Daise
Kissimmee
FL

Anthony
Taylor
Miami
FL

Jonathan
Nabaka
Miami Beach
FL

Bransyl
Boston
Middleburg
FL

Gabrielle
Wright
Orlando
FL

Jalen
Sanders
Pinetta
FL

Kevant
Gross
Reddick
FL

Kendyll
Gabriel
Saint Johns
FL

Amiah
Adams
Saint Petersburg
FL

Grace
Allen
Windermere
FL

Anthony
Juba-Richardson
Winter Garden
FL

Mary
Yeboah
College Park
GA

Malik
Carter
Dallas
GA

Matthew
Jackson
Demorest
GA

Henry
Stephens iv
Grovetown
GA

April
Breedlove
Lithonia
GA

Benedict
Zuzi
Loganville
GA

Mikaela
Sanders
Mableton
GA

Devan
Smith
Marietta
GA

Makaya
Clinton
McDonough
GA

Caleb
Middleton
McDonough
GA

Patrice
Roberts
Smyrna
GA

Myles
Madden
Stockbridge
GA

Sean
Hanford
Stone Mountain
GA

Alanis
Broussard
Woodstock
GA

Isabel
Schwartz
Highland Park
IL

Yvette
Cabrera
Portage
IN

Akerth
Jain
Olathe
KS

Samantha
Gallant
Bedford
MA

Hannah
Goldman
Norton
MA

Gabrielle
Williams
Accokeek
MD

Iyana
Charles
Baltimore
MD

Mamaie
Evonlah
Germantown
MD

Lauryn
Howell
Upper Marlboro
MD

Ilyna
Fontaine
Waldorf
MD

Elizabeth
Bennett
Almont
MI

Sade
Ried
Detroit
MI

Alyse
Dees
Burnsville
MN

Benjamin
Walworth
Branson
MO

Kevin
Neely
Ferguson
MO

Sabrina
Baggstrom
Kirkwood
MO

Kyra
Moody
Ruleville
MS

Jasmine
Bell
Charlotte
NC

Nasir
Turnage
Greensboro
NC

Nicholas
Harvey III
Kinston
NC

Ashley
Ward
Wilson
NC

Andrew
Coates
Orange
NJ

Emmanuel
Lee
Teaneck
NJ

Roman
Jimenez
Las Vegas
NV

Aileen
Nieto Martinez
Bronx
NY

Alison
Parish
Bronx
NY

Tori
Manuel
Brooklyn
NY

Avaneque
Pennant
Hollis
NY

Meril
Mousoom
Jamaica
NY

Tianna
Gonzales
Lake Grove
NY

Kaiya
Simmons
Miller Place
NY

Katerina
Corr
New York
NY

Eason
Rytter
New York
NY

Kynnedy
Smith
Cleveland
OH

Gabrielle
Dennis
Toledo
OH

Bryson
Simpson
University Heights
OH

Liam
McGarry
Erie
PA

Mason
Hedge
Freedom
PA

Collin
Mentzer
Lebanon
PA

Jacques
Moye
Pittsburgh
PA

Jeffery
Feaster
Blair
SC

Anna
Zielke
Daniel Island
SC

Alyssa
Gottheiner
Manning
SC

Alexis
Clark
Myrtle Beach
SC

Kristen
Namminga
Avon
SD

Jasmine
Durham
Memphis
TN

Ian
McKenna Goncalo
Austin
TX

Lucas
Davis
Cibolo
TX

Frances
Rangel
El Paso
TX

Charlye
Jackson
Houston
TX

Gavin
Wiltshire
San Antonio
TX

Hanah
Lopez
Schertz
TX

Paige
Dawson
Layton
UT

Cristofer
O’Brien
Chesterfield
VA

Sabrina
Rittner
Lovettsville
VA

Piper
Vance
Nitro
WV

 
 
 
Source: WDW Feed