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The fifth anniversary of Disney’s Dreamers Academy marked a great milestone of motivating and inspiring more than 500 high school students. Held in what many have called the world’s most creative classroom – Walt Disney World Resort, the Academy continued to ignite Dreams, passions and lives.
Super-star comedian and author, Steve Harvey kicked off the four-day event at the Magic Kingdom in front of Cinderella Castle with the class of 2012 Dreamers. Festivities at the Magic Kingdom park where the Dreamers got a chance to be a part of the magic behind Disney as they participate in a parade down iconic Main Street USA.
A bevy of professionals from a variety of career paths offered their insight to attendees and provided advice on how to achieve success. The power-packed program included “immersive, deep-dive workshops” on a variety of subjects ranging from entertainment and entrepreneurship to the medical field, culinary arts and creative inspiration from Walt Disney Imagineering, the creative gurus behind Disney Parks’ theme parks and attractions. Dreamers also had the opportunity to participate in the magic behind Disney, as they march in a welcome parade.
Journalist and host of CNN’s “Starting Point” Soledad O’Brien conducted a session with students entitled, “How Not to Give Up on Your Dreams” while singer Jordin Sparks — the youngest-ever winner of American Idol – delivered a motivational address to the Dreamers. Terrence J, host of BET’s “106 & Park” returned to conduct the talk-show format “Conversations with Terrence J,” engaging students in a lively discussion about the pursuit of career goals and life dreams. Other VIPs participating in the weekend’s events included: hip-hop artist Sean Kingston and gospel music recording artist and superstar Yolanda Adams.
The 2012 Disney’s Dreamers Academy took place March 8-11 at Walt Disney World resort near Orlando, Florida. For more information visit www.disneysdreamersacademy.com or www.facebook.com/disneysdreamersacademy. You can also follow us on Twitter @dreamersacademy.
