A Magical Journey Begins for 100 High School Students Headed to Disney's Dreamers Academy

A Magical Journey Begins for 100 High School Students Headed to Disney's Dreamers Academy

Walt Disney World Resort and Celebrity Radio Personality Steve Harvey Announce Participants

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Nov. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Walt Disney World Resort will open the doors of the magic behind Disney to 100 creative and imaginative teens from New York to New Orleans, from Compton, CA., to Wichita, KS -- that is, from all across the United States -- who have been selected to participate in Disney's Dreamers Academy. Disney worked with nationally syndicated radio personality Steve Harvey to create this innovative program.

(Logo:

http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070925/AQTU088LOGO

Designed to immerse the students in creative and non-conventional career opportunities, the first-ever career enrichment program of its kind will take place in the world's most creative classroom -- Walt Disney World Resort -- Jan. 17-20, 2008, during The Year of a Million Dreams.

The Steve Harvey Morning Show conducted the Dreamer's Contest to identify the participants in Disney's Dreamers Academy. This program was created for high school students who show promise -- but may need a little motivation. However, all of the selected students share a trait: the power to DREAM. Parents, teachers, school administrators, church groups and even the students themselves nominated more than 3,000 aspiring dreamers from across the nation for the program.

The participants were selected by a distinguished panel of judges including: Harvey; Dr. Emma Epps, president of the National Alliance of Black School Educators; Jennifer Bohn, international baccalaureate coordinator at Evans High School in Orlando, FL.; Gary Cain, president of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida; Ernie Suggs, vice president of the National Association of Black Journalists; CNN anchor Tony Harris; Terrence J., host of BET 106 & Park; Rushion McDonald, executive producer of the Steve Harvey Morning Show; Xiomara Wiley, vice president of Disneyland marketing and vice president of Walt Disney World Multicultural Marketing; and Eugene Campbell, director of Community Relations, Walt Disney World Resort.

During Disney's Dreamers Academy, young dreamers will have unprecedented access to the magic behind Walt Disney World Resort. Students will participate in interactive workshops focusing on a variety of subjects including Walt Disney World Imagineering techniques, entertainment, the business of sports, culinary arts, and more. Disney cast members, executives and celebrities like actress Monique Coleman will share their blueprints for success. And the lucky participants will explore Disney's theme parks before a graduation ceremony where a special guest will deliver a motivational address.

"When you talk about the Disney World organization it has as many jobs as a single corporation can have and I'm excited to see these kids have an opportunity to experience everything that Disney has to offer them," said Steve Harvey. "We'll show these kids that there are many ways to follow your dreams."

"This is a special program that we have created as part of the Year of a Million Dreams celebration at Disney Parks," said Disney's Wiley. "We want to educate and open doors for our young dreamers by helping them to realize the power within and inspiring them to discover their dreams and follow them wherever they lead."

The magic begins ...

The complete list of 100 teens selected to
participate in Disney's Dreamers Academy **

Name City State High School Name
Arcalia Butler Phoenix City AL Central
Brandon Cook Birmingham AL Wenonah
Angel Flournoy Sherwood AR North Pulski
Ashley Thomas N Little Rock AR N Little Rock- West
Deonte Harmon Covina CA Northview
Jacquelyn Austin Fontana CA Etiwanda
Jeanessa Perry Compton CA New Roads Preparatory School
Kelsie Shawver Los Angeles CA St. Monica Catholic
LaToya Johnson Compton CA Dominguez
Russell Haylock Inglewood CA Morningside
Sharnice Walker Washington DC Duke Ellington Performing Arts
Brandon Ross Newark DE Cab Calloway High School of the
Arts
Britne Hutchins New Castle DE Pencader Charter
Rahjae Cooper Bear DE Christiana
Anjanetta Hunter St Petersburg FL Boca Ciega
Branden Long New Smyrna FL New Smyrna Beach
Beach
Brittany Bowling Dunnellon FL Crystal River
Ebony Collins Miami FL Everglades
Erin Ravanel Tampa FL King
Irvin Wilson Orlando FL Evans
Jason Elo Deerfield FL Deerfield Beach
Beach
Lacoya White Bradenton FL Lakewood Ranch
Lavelle Paul Homestead FL Florida Virtual
Maire Fatil Miami FL Miami Northwestern Senior
Manuel O'Neal Jacksonville FL A. Phillip Randolph
Marcinis Shaw Davenport FL Don E Woods
Onassis Vilaire Miami FL Robert Morgan EDU Ctr.
Syndic Geedanie North Miami FL Miami Northwestern Senior
Beach
Tiffany Bell-Ortiz Orlando FL Ocoee
Troy Williams III Tampa FL DW Waters Career Center
Christopher Braz Stone GA Miller Grove
Mountain
Johnte Green Lithonia GA New Birth Christian Academy
Joshua Postell Atlanta GA D.M. Therrell
Quinterrence Bell Macon GA Northeast
Shaquinzela Macon GA Westside
Simpson
JacQuez Walker Chicago IL Kelvyn Park
Kenneth Sellers Wichita KS Wichita Southeast
Demarcus Brown Gilliam LA North Caddo
Jesse Bridges New Orleans LA U.N.O Early College
Kendra Lynch-Mills New Orleans LA Xavier University Preparatory
Misunique Byes Avondale LA L.W. Higgins
Bret Sears Baltimore MD Renaissance Academy
Cameron Jackson Frederick MD Frederick Senior
Carlos Teixeria Baltimore MD Baltimore School for the Arts
Christopher Burt Suitland MD Dr. Henry A. Wise Senior
Jared Smith Upper MD Henry Wise Jr.
Marlboro
Jordan Holley Randallstown MD Towson Catholic
Kayla Williams Silver Spring MD James Hubert Blake
Mitchell Generette Baltimore MD Renaissance Academy
Monique Davis Annapolis MD Annapolis
Nevasha Noble Bowie MD Central
Reginald Cromer Greenbelt MD Eleanor Roosevelt
Ronnie Jones Frederick MD Governor Johnson
Zachary Green Clinton MD Surrattsville
Ariel Gardner Pontiac MI Pontiac Central
Brittany O'Neal Clinton Twp. MI Clintondale
Devin Whitfield Detroit MI Henry Ford
Kamila Powell Detroit MI Arts Academy in the Woods
(Merritt)
Omari Cook, Jr. Inkster MI John Glenn
Tevyn Cole Maybee MI Milan
Brian Myers Kansas City MO Park Hill South
Ronald Moore-Mingo Kansas City MO Center Alternative School
Dominique Newell Charlotte NC Phillip O. Berry Academy of
Technology

Falesse Benfold Fayetteville NC E.E. Smith
Gabrielle Smith Winston-Salem NC Central Dauphin East
Jason Riley Charlotte NC Victory Christian Center
Latia Hawkins Winston Salem NC Carver
Lavonde Roseboro Charlotte NC Hopewell
Malcolm Ransom Fort Bragg NC Massey Hill Classical
Xavier Ball Greensboro NC James Bensons Dudley
Bryan Byrd Newark NJ Barringer
Eboni Miller Trenton NJ Trenton Central
Edward Thorpe Trenton NJ Burlington County
Lumberton County
Jahbari Woodson Trenton NJ Emily Fisher Charter School
Malcom Bristow Newark NJ Union Catholic Regional
Tommie Jones II Glassboro NJ Glassboro
Berchell Egerton Brooklyn NY Christ church School
Earl Morris NY NY Wadleigh High School of
Performing Arts.
Rian Grimes New York NY Humanities
Sharran Atterberry Laurelton NY Freedom Academy
Andrew Howard Philadelphia PA Constitution
Eriberto Roman West Chester PA B. Reed Henderson
Maurice Muldrow Philadelphia PA E.S. Miller
Patricia Thompson Upper Darby PA Upper Darby
Stephanie Stewart Philadelphia PA Frankford Senior
Atiya Leach York SC Clover
Brittany Hopkins Summerville SC Summerville
Eric Hooper Chester SC Chester Senior
Kendrick Thompson Lancaster SC Lancaster
Ronald Sloan Columbia SC Columbia
Steven Brown Columbia SC WJ Keenan
Paulita Edmondson Gates TN Hall
Ericka Williams Tyler TX Robert E Lee
Christy Fuller North VA Middlesex
Eric Robinson Cobbs Greek VA Mathews
Jalen Grant Richmond VA Huguenot
Joseph Staley Norfolk VA Granby
Quiamony Gaskins Norfolk VA Norview
Jasmine Bass Milwaukee WI Milwaukee Lutheran
Nadine Verner Milwaukee WI Riverside University

**Participation is contingent upon verification and return of required
documentation.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Photo:

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AP Archive:

http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Walt Disney World Resort

CONTACT: Annette Gibbs of Walt Disney World Resort, +1-407-566-5330,
Annette.gibbs@disney.com; or Leslie Bardo, +1-312-297-9752,
lbardo@burrell.com, for Walt Disney World Resort

NOTE TO EDITORS: For photographs and more information about Disney's Dreamers Academy or Walt Disney World Resort, access the Walt Disney World Public Relations media only Web site at wdwnews.com; user name: disney; password: magic.

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