Imagination Among US Teens

Walt Disney World Resort and Radio Personality Steve Harvey Call for Nominations

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Sept. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Walt Disney World Resort announced that nominations have begun for its first ever Disney's Dreamers Academy. During the "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration, Walt Disney World Resort is reaching out to teens, parents, educators and community members to find 100 high school students with the potential for greatness to be part of Disney's Dreamers Academy, an enrichment event weekend Jan. 17-20, 2008.

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Walt Disney World is searching for teens, grades 9-12, from across the nation with a special appeal for African American teens, to give them the opportunity to go as far as their dreams and their imaginations will take them.

During the Disney's Dreamers Academy program, the students will be immersed in creative, non-conventional careers at Walt Disney World. Disney's Dreamers Academy nomination process started on September 24 and runs through October 15, 2007.

Walt Disney World has partnered with nationally syndicated radio personality Steve Harvey to create this innovative program. Disney's Dreamers Academy is designed for students who show promise -- but may need a little motivation -- and share one common trait: the power to dream.

"Disney's Dreamers Academy is very important to me because it's about the education of our young people who are oftentimes slighted and don't have the chance to be exposed to a variety of job skills and job sets and meet with people in the fields they're interested in," said Steve Harvey. "We want to give our young achievers the tools to become overachievers -- to take their dreams stratospheric."

The lucky participants will be selected from among young dreamers nominated by their parents, legal guardians, their school, churches, social organizations, youth programs -- or even themselves. Participants in the program must be enrolled in high school. A select panel of judges including Steve Harvey, key community leaders, Disney representatives and educators will choose the 100 finalists. Nomination forms and more details about Disney's Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey can be found on http://www.steveharvey.com/disneysdreamersacademy

Selected students will be treated to complete immersion in career development. Sessions will include interactive workshops, motivational talks with sports and entertainment celebrities and discussions led by Disney cast members and executives sharing their blueprint for success. Workshop topics will feature everything from business to architecture/engineering, animation to set design, show production to culinary arts, to learning the business behind sports. There also will be free time to enjoy the Walt Disney World's famous theme parks and recreation.

"This is about taking youth with potential and opening doors for them -- helping them to realize their dreams," said Xiomara Wiley, Vice President of Multicultural Marketing, Disney Parks and Resorts. "And what a place to do it! At 40 square miles, Walt Disney World is the world's largest creative classroom designed to inspire people. These young people will have unprecedented access to the magic behind the magic."

SOURCE Walt Disney World Resort

CONTACT: Annette Gibbs of Walt Disney World Resort, +1-407-566-5337, Annette.gibbs@disney.com; or Leslie Bardo, +1-312-297-9752, lbardo@burrell.com, for Walt Disney World Resort -0- Sep/25/2007 15:09 GMT

Last Updated: September 25, 2007 11:09 EDT