Walt Disney World Resort and Steve Harvey Inspire Teens Through Disney's Dreamers Academy 2009 Class

Walt Disney World Resort and Steve Harvey Inspire Teens Through Disney's Dreamers Academy 2009 Class

100 Nationwide High School Students Selected to Attend Innovative Learning Environment at Walt Disney World Resort

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Dec. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Walt Disney World Resort, in partnership with nationally syndicated radio personality Steve Harvey, announced its selection of 100 nationwide high school students to participate in the Disney's Dreamers Academy of 2009. Selected students and a guardian will travel to Walt Disney World Resort to take part in an innovative career inspiration program that includes interactive workshops, motivational talks, hands-on creative experiences and fun. The program will take place February 12-15, 2009, during national Black History Month.

"With the nation's attention on change and a spirit of renewed hope, we are very pleased with the excitement centered on this year's Disney's Dreamers Academy and the overwhelming enthusiasm it has generated from young people spanning America," said Xiomara Wiley, a vice president of marketing at Disney Destinations. "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."

Celebrating its second "Dreamers Class," the Disney's Dreamers Academy reaches out nationwide to teens, grades 9-12, extolling the virtues of preparing for the future. The program's aim is to expose teens to creative and nontraditional career opportunities in everything from culinary arts to animation, set design and show production to the business of sports, while inspiring them to exceed the boundaries of their dreams and imaginations.

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 additional motivational support to excel. 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 4,000 aspiring dreamers from across the nation for the program.

"The Walt Disney World organization has been a great partner in this initiative, and their commitment to providing students with a once in a life time experience, such as Disney's Dreamers Academy, is commendable," said Steve Harvey. "Together, we have the ability to enhance the lives of these deserving kids by showing them that there are many ways to follow your dreams."

During Disney's Dreamers Academy, students are given unprecedented access to the magic behind Walt Disney World Resort. As part of their experience this group of dreamers will participate in interactive workshops focusing on a variety of subjects including Walt Disney Imagineering techniques, entertainment, the business of sports, culinary arts, and more. Disney cast members, executives and celebrities will share their blueprints for success. Participants will also explore Disney's theme parks and then end their special weekend with a graduation ceremony where a special guest will deliver a motivational address.

Participants in this year's Disney's Dreamers Academy class were selected by a distinguished panel of judges including: Harvey; Wiley; Rushion McDonald (executive producer of the Steve Harvey Morning Show); Reverend Randolph Bracy (president of the NAACP, Orlando); Dr. Trudie Kibbe Reed (president, Bethune-Cookman University); Terrence J. (host of BET 106 & Park); Eugene Campbell (vice president of community relations & minority business development, Walt Disney World Resort); Steve Smith (NBA TV analyst/Ex-NBA player); Stephen A. Smith (ESPN Radio host/sports journalist); Cassie Davis (actress, "Tyler Perry's House of Payne"); Mark Hayes (WAGA-TV anchor, Fox Atlanta); and Eduardo Correia (director, Kodak Multicultural Marketing).

The Disney's Dreamer Academy was launched in 2007. For more information visit http://steveharvey.com/disneysdreamersacademy/.

The magic begins ...

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

Academy *

Name City State High School
Roderick Turner Birmingham AL John Carroll HS
Kelsey Bullard Mexia AL Monroe HS
Grace Burton Opelika AL Opelika HS
Kenderick Scorza N. Little Rock AR N. Little Rock HS East
Renna Reed-Cobb Lancaster CA Lancaster HS
Trevor Howard Los Angeles CA Community Harvest
Jonathan McNeal Los Angeles CA Venice High
Slomique Elder Pasadena CA John Marshall Fund HS
Tre'Marri Evans San Dimas CA San Dimas HS
Andre Johnson Washington DC McKinley Tech
Clarence Lee III Washington DC St. John's College HS
Dietra Hunter Newark DE Christiana HS
Sharnett Brown Wilmington DE Cab Calloway
Joel March Apopka FL Boone HS
Abriel Littleton Clearwater FL Clearwater HS
Dallas Glen Jacksonville FL Stanton College Prep
John Ray III Jacksonville FL Heart to Heart
Christian Academy
Thomas Johnson Lake Worth FL Santaluces HS
Celia Campbell Miami FL Miami Edison Sr. HS
Ahbria Marshall Miami FL Northwestern Sr. HS
Krista King Orlando FL Dr. Philips HS
Anton Massey Oviedo FL Lake Howell HS
Raven VonWood Sarasota FL Potter's Wheel Academy
Broderick Fields St. Petersburg FL Gibbs HS
Le'Amber Dunn Valrico FL Durant HS
Kierstein Nelson Winter Haven FL Harrison School for the
Arts
Jasmine Gosha Albany GA Westover HS
Taylor Scott Atlanta GA Booker T. Washington HS
Deborah Griffin Augusta GA Curtis Baptist
Christina Taylor Decatur GA Druid Hills HS
Phelicia Berry East Point GA Frederick Douglass HS
Jonathan Mims Hephzibah GA AR Johnson Magnet HS
Shonquisha Burton Louisville GA Jefferson County HS
Jaqualla Foxworth Macon GA Rutland HS
Nikkita Saunders Macon GA Central HS
Sha'Ron Lanier Savannah GA Windsor Forest HS
Taylor Thomas Alsip IL Allen B. Shepard
Samuel Lewis Chicago IL St. Gregory HS.
Frank Lopez, Jr. Chicago IL Luther HS South
Alexis Moore Justice IL Argo Community HS
Stephan Earlywine Trafalgar IN Southport HS
Demetrius Pennie Lexington KY Bryan Station HS
Michael Williams Gretna LA St. Augustine HS
Angell Luter New Orleans LA St. Mary's Academy
Aquanetta Tyler New Orleans LA Grace King HS
Wesley Jackson Beltsville MD Laurel HS
Megan Hodge Bowie MD Annapolis Area
Christian
Symone Linkins Columbia MD Wilde Lake HS
Devin Osborne Darnestown MD Northwest HS
Ebony Fletcher Hyattsville MD Clinton Christian
Darius Glover Owings Mills MD Randallstown HS
Remi Winston Severn MD Archbishop Spalding HS
Chaney Xavier Waldorf MD Westlake HS
Toni Lynn Harris Detroit MI Henry Ford HS
Khadijah King Detroit MI Cass Technical HS
Jela Morris Detroit MI Communications & Media
Arts
Raven Pickett Detroit MI Mumford HS
Domonique Williams Detroit MI Covenant HS
Gerald Palmer, Jr. Rochester Hill MI Rochester Adams HS
Javan Carter Greenwood MO Lees Summit West HS
Miranda Johnson Kansas City MO St. Teresa's Academy
Delmonty Jones Charlotte NC Ardey Kell HS
Parth Joshi Charlotte NC Evelyn Mack HS
Rochelle Maignan Charlotte NC Cato Middle College HS
Olivia Stinson Charlotte NC Mallard Creek HS
Jalen Crowder Marshville NC Forest Hills HS
Hadiyah Lancaster Raleigh NC Broughton HS
Cierra Holt Wade NC Cape Fear HS
Quanyaria Story Winston Salem NC Atkins HS
Quaniya Mason Bloomfield NJ Bloomfield HS
Jasmine Cates Mt. Vernon NY Thornton HS
Jalena Hardy New York NY Martin Van Buren HS
Ariana Sampson-Morris New York NY Wadleigh HS of
Performing Arts
Latoya Maile Staten Island NY Port Richmond HS
Mychal Clayton Akron OH Garfield HS
David Williams Canonsburg PA Canon McMillian
Kyle Carter Morrisville PA Pennsburg HS
Tequila Cole Penn Hills PA Linton MS
Justyn Joint Philadelphia PA W. Philadelphia
Catholic
Niya McLeod Philadelphia PA Stephen Girard College
Marquis Newman Philadelphia PA Northeast HS
John Wilson Philadelphia PA Abraham Lincoln HS
Kevin Hammer Upper Darby PA Upper Darby HS
Justin Huang West Chester PA Bayard Rustin HS
Justin Moore Columbia SC Hammond School
Jordan Stovall Elgin SC Ridgeview High School
Damian Glover Arlington TX Mansfield Timberview HS
Rian Lowe Dallas TX The Winston School
Dresstin Wagoner Ft. Worth TX Eastern Hills
Joslyn Johnson Haltom City TX Haltom High School
Marcus Inman Capron VA Southhampton HS
Shakia McCloud Chesapeake VA Indian River HS
Lauren Sharpe Chester VA Thomas Dale HS
Ashley Knight Franklin VA Southhampton HS
Robert Green Newport News VA Heritage HS
Toni Johnson Newport News VA Bethel HS
Terry Jernigan, Jr. Norfolk VA Norview HS
Derrick Elliott Portsmouth VA Woodrow Wilson HS
Teresa Cuffe Virginia Beach VA Green Run HS
Michael Walker Walworth WI Big Foot HS

* Participation is subject to verification and return of the required
documentation

Source: Walt Disney World Resort

CONTACT: Annette Gibbs of Walt Disney World Resort, +1-407-566-5330,
Annette.gibbs@disney.com; or Larry Jones, +1-312-297-9786, ljones@Burrell.com,
for Walt Disney World Resort

Web site: http://steveharvey.com/disneysdreamersacademy

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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