At the 17th annual Disney Dreamers Academy, taking place from April 3 to 7 at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, celebrities including Daymond John, Dara Reneé, Lance Gross, and Sanya Richards-Ross, are gearing up to inspire and support 100 selected high school students from diverse and underrepresented communities across the United States.
Daymond John, known for his role on the hit ABC TV series' Shark Tank' and his entrepreneurial success with the clothing line FUBU, alongside Lance Gross, known for his lead role in Tyler Perry's 'House of Payne,' and Sanya Richards-Ross, a four-time Olympic gold medalist and star of 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta,' will be joined by DJ Big Tigger and radio host Rickey Smiley. The celebrities will participate alongside educators, designers, producers, and Disney executives in a series of workshops designed to help students dream big and explore a myriad of career paths within The Walt Disney Company and beyond.
Dara Reneé, known for her role as Kourtney in 'High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,' will take on the role of the Academy's "DREAMbassador." As a mentor, Reneé will share her experiences and insights, aiming to inspire the students with her multifaceted career as an actor, singer, and dancer. Reneé has already appeared in various on-screen roles, including ABC's 'Black-ish' and 'Grey's Anatomy,' and is set to star in the upcoming Disney Original movie 'Descendants: The Rise of Red,' streaming this summer on Disney+.
The Disney Dreamers Academy's list of speakers extends to notable figures such as Dr. Johnnetta Cole, former president of Spelman College; Nikkolas Smith, a former Disney Imagineer and illustrator for films like 'Black Panther'; and Lyn Sisson-Talbert, producer of 'Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey.'
Selected from thousands of applicants, the Disney Dreamers enjoy an all-expenses-paid trip to the Walt Disney World Resort for the event. Since its inception in 2008, the Disney Dreamers Academy has empowered over 1,600 students, helping them to discover a world of possibilities and prepare for their futures in fields as diverse as storytelling, engineering, journalism, and beyond, with many alumni returning as mentors to new generations of Dreamers.
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