Anh Le from San Jose and PhuongUyen Nguyen from Torrance among 100 high school students selected in Mentoring Trip to Disney Dreamers Academy

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“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 /PRNewswire/ — 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 were handed 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
About Walt Disney World Resort/The Walt Disney Co.:
Walt Disney World Resort is a contiguous 40-square-mile, world-class entertainment and recreation center located at Lake Buena Vista, Fla., 20 miles southwest of Orlando. The Walt Disney Co. has a rich legacy of creativity and exceptional storytelling that brings families together in unique and memorable ways. Creative excellence is coupled with a strong commitment to community service and diversity. The Walt Disney Co. is dedicated to making a positive impact in communities around the world, with a primary focus on brightening the lives of children.

About Steve Harvey:
Harvey is an author, actor, producer and comedian. Currently, he is the host of the nationally syndicated radio program, “Steve Harvey Morning Show” as well as host and executive producer of multiple television shows including “Funderdome,” “Family Feud,” and “Steve.”

About ESSENCE Communications Inc.:
ESSENCE Communications Inc. (ECI) is the #1 media company dedicated to African-American women, with a multi-platform presence in publishing, live events and online. The company’s flagship publication, ESSENCE magazine, is the preeminent lifestyle magazine for African-American women; generating brand extensions such as the ESSENCE Festival, ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood and Black Women in Music, Window on Our Women and Smart Beauty consumer insights series, ESSENCE.com, and ventures in digital media (mobile, television and VOD). For 45 years, ESSENCE, which has a brand reach of 14.1 million, has been the leading source of cutting-edge information and specific solutions relating to every area of African-American women’s lives. Additional information about ECI and ESSENCE is available at www.essence.com.

SOURCE Walt Disney World Resort