The school year is already in full swing, and so are applications to the 2016 Disney Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and ESSENCE Magazine. The innovative, out-of-the-classroom, educational mentoring program at Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Dreamers Academy will once again select 100 high school students to participate in a unique, hands-on mentoring and learning experience. To be considered, high school students must apply at DisneyDreamersAcademy.com by Oct. 30.
[Related: ‘I Have a Dream Today….’]
Disney Dreamers Academy continues to hold true to its mission of inspiring and fueling the dreams of teens, and to help them discover a world of possibilities. Each year, students participate in engaging, immersive workshops that expose them to a variety of career paths ranging from animation to zoology. Each participant learns important skills such as communication techniques, leadership values, and networking strategies.
Motivational speakers and celebrities share their stories and provide insight into how to dream big and achieve success. Dreamers can cultivate relationships with other students from across the country, while they learn from Disney experts and world-renowned entrepreneurs and executives.
With the imaginative and magical setting of Walt Disney World Resort, Dreamers will be able to go behind the scenes to learn what inspires Disney storytellers, as well as use the theme parks as energizing “classrooms,†that can help lead them to discoveries in career interests, the pursuit of dreams, and fun memories that will last a lifetime.
Steve Harvey, syndicated radio and television personality, along with ESSENCE and Walt Disney World Resort will host the selected Dreamers during their four-day power-packed career and educational exploration. “One of my personal commitments is to always give back and particularly to youth,†Harvey says in a release. “We’ve seen 800 students come through the program, and I’m excited to find the next 100. I encourage all high school students to take the time to apply to Disney Dreamers Academy because I truly believe that a young person’s dream is more important than anything.â€
To apply, students must answer three essay questions describing their stories, the people who have influenced them the most, and their dreams for the future. Students are selected based on a combination of attributes including strong character, positive attitude, and a determination to achieve their dreams.
Select Disney Dreamers, along with a parent or guardian, will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, where they will participate in life-changing sessions surrounded by the ingenuity and passion represented in Disney theme parks around the world. Disney Dreamers Academy will take place March 3—6, 2016.
Applications are open to U.S. high school students, ages 13 to 19, until Oct. 30, 2015. A distinguished panel of leaders will judge the applications in November, and winners will be announced in December 2015.
For more information, visit: DisneyDreamersAcademy.com. Follow the Dreamers on Facebook.com/DisneyDreamersAcademy or on Twitter.com/DreamersAcademy.