Disney Dreamers Academy returns in-person to celebrate its 15th anniversary year. The pandemic bought its challenges when they had to cut the program short in 2020 but the virtual series was very successful.
What young leader wouldn't want to be selected for this amazing opportunity? One hundred high school students will get the chance of a lifetime, along with one parent or guardian! They're going on an all expenses paid trip where they will be encouraged to dream big and take part in some really insightful mentoring sessions at Walt Disney World.
Related: What is Disney Dreamers Academy?
The Disney Dreamers program is an important part of Disney’s commitment to supporting diverse communities, such as Black America, by encouraging the next generation to think big 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.
“We are excited and honored to celebrate 15 years of Disney Dreamers Academy with this year’s class,” said Tracey D. Powell, Walt Disney World Resort Vice President and Disney Dreamers Academy executive champion. “We’ve embraced this opportunity to amplify the event, and we’re thrilled to introduce new experiences, new career programs and new mentors.”
For the past fifteen years (2008), Disney Dreamers Academy has inspired more than 1,300 students from across the country by fueling their dreams and showing them a world of possibilities as they prepare for their futures. In the years following, graduates have gone on to become doctors, nurses, engineers, pilots, journalists and more, and have transitioned into mentors to the Disney Dreamers who follow them, including event speaker Princeton Parker (Class of 2011), who is now a Disney cast member.
Princeton Parker not only has such an inspiring story but the energy that he exudes is contagious. He take his role as alumni serious and wants to make certain that students leave inspired, motivated and ready to pursue their dreams.
How do you get into the Disney Dreamers Academy?
Applications for this years have ended but I encourage you to check back as I will remind you when it opens for next year. It generally opens late summer to early fall.
Encourage your teen or any high school dreamer, ages 13-18 to apply. I attended virtually last year and it definitely left a lasting imprint on me. Imagine how this will inspire your student to be their best!
Meet the 2022 Class of Disney Dreamers Academy!
Congratulations to the 100 students that have been selected for Disney Dreamers Academy. Looking forward to following along on the journey!
First Name | Last Name | City | State |
| Nolan | Hatcher | Birmingham | AL |
| Ava | Cocke | Fairhope | AL |
| Mackenzie | Hill | Hazel Green | AL |
| Jaynie | Turner | Helena | AL |
| Tylor | Anderson | Mobile | AL |
| Prisha | Shroff | Chandler | AZ |
| Annalise | Jones | Mesa | AZ |
| Alex | Zhang | Cupertino | CA |
| Jamila | Abdelkarim | Fullerton | CA |
| Katherine | Lawler | Livermore | CA |
| Roi | Clinton | Manhattan Beach | CA |
| Kevin | Gonzalez Ramirez | San Diego | CA |
| Kayli Joy | Cooper | Studio City | CA |
| Sophia | Mitsuoka | Centennial | CO |
| Caleb | Hatch | Colorado Springs | CO |
| McKenzie | Williams | Boca Raton | FL |
| Christianna | Alexander | Jacksonville | FL |
| Zachary | Andrews | Jacksonville | FL |
| Khushi | Talluru | Lakewood Ranch | FL |
| Isabella | Puglisi | Miami Shores | FL |
| Roxie | Richbourg | Orlando | FL |
| Javier | Lageyre | Weston | FL |
| Ramon | Abreu | Windermere | FL |
| Azriel | Melvin | Atlanta | GA |
| Jordyn | Spencer | Atlanta | GA |
| Nathanael | Occilien-Similien | Covington | GA |
| MiCai | Haywood | Fairburn | GA |
| Cedaisia | Talton | Fort Valley | GA |
| Amia | Georges | Marietta | GA |
| Ryann | Richards | Powder Springs | GA |
| Ilarose | Robinson | Riverdale | GA |
| Abigail | Smith | Statesboro | GA |
| Kayla | Nelson | Frankfort | IL |
| Reagan | Sturgis | Cambridge Cty | IN |
| Alison | Yee | Leawood | KS |
| Hrilina | Rakhs | Gretna | LA |
| Elizabeth | Garder | Mandeville | LA |
| Rose | Warfield | Grafton | MA |
| Lance | Carr | Clarksburg | MD |
| Kemery | Oparah | Clinton | MD |
| Danielle | Nelson | Columbia | MD |
| Kaiya | Jones | Ellicott City | MD |
| Whitley | Shields | Fort Washington | MD |
| CiaRa | Sejour | Ft Washington | MD |
| Caleb | Oh | Gambrills | MD |
| Amber | Johnson | Oxon Hill | MD |
| Olivia | Jones | Silver Spring | MD |
| Miyana | holden | Bloomfield Hills | MI |
| Alexis | Cornett | Highland | MI |
| Sean | Shelbrock | Montrose | MI |
| Maxwell | Parney | Rochester | MN |
| Michael | Wren | Florissant | MO |
| Bryce | Allen | Charlotte | NC |
| Journi | Kirby | Concord | NC |
| Joshua | Hanflink | Greensboro | NC |
| Britney | Nyabaro | Wake Forest | NC |
| Maya | Roseboro | Wilmington | NC |
| Justin | Fountain | Winston Salem | NC |
| Diya | Nair | Avenel | NJ |
| Denia | Smith | Belle Mead | NJ |
| Darius | Brown | Newark | NJ |
| Kendall | Henderson | Robbinsville | NJ |
| Alexis | Halm | South Orange | NJ |
| Abibat | Akinyele Yusifu | Bronx | NY |
| Elsa | Woodarek | Ellicottville | NY |
| Malaya | Talavera | Hicksville | NY |
| Michael | Taggart | Jamaica | NY |
| Justin | Alvarez | New York | NY |
| Darcie | Wu | New York | NY |
| Aaliyah | Summons | Port Jervis | NY |
| Cyruss | Bell | Rochester | NY |
| Naeema | Baksh | Rosedale | NY |
| Sanaalee | Troupe | Uniondale | NY |
| Annabel | Long | Bexley | OH |
| Isabella | Green | Cleveland | OH |
| Nolan | Pastore | Hartville | OH |
| Meghana | Boda | Lewis Center | OH |
| Skylar | Blumenauer | Massillon | OH |
| Emma | Jeffrey | Yukon | OK |
| Kyler | Wang | Portland | OR |
| Bethany | Washington | Hanover | PA |
| Zachary | Sullivan | Pittsburgh | PA |
| Arianna | Gaiter | Pittsburgh | PA |
| Victoria | Ren | Sewickley | PA |
| Tyra | Jefferson | Columbia | SC |
| Cadence | Brown | Williston | SC |
| Samuel | Draper | Converse | TX |
| Mason | Thenor | Cypress | TX |
| Andre | Scott | Humble | TX |
| Baani | Sandhu | Irving | TX |
| Destiny | Weeden | Killeen | TX |
| Maya | Burns | McKinney | TX |
| Elizabeth | Mielke | Prosper | TX |
| Marcus | Drake | Rockwall | TX |
| Theodore | Hervey | San Antonio | TX |
| Myles | Bracey-Hairston | Lorton | VA |
| Audrey | Zorrilla | Midlothian | VA |
| Kortney | Bostic | Shenandoah | VA |
| Samantha | Haywood | Vienna | VA |
| SImmi | Sen | Vancouver | WA |
For more information, visit DisneyDreamersAcademy.com. Regular updates about Disney Dreamers Academy are also available at Facebook.com/DisneyDreamersAcademy, Twitter.com/DreamersAcademy and Instagram.com/disneydreamersacademy.
Great news!