Disney's Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey Begins Looking for 2010 Class

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Aug. 26, 2009) – Do you know a high school student that could use some encouragement in their lives or a push of excitement toward their goals?

Disney's Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey, an event created to inspire and enrich high school students, has started accepting nominations for the Class of 2010. From now until Oct. 2, 2009, parents, teachers, family and friends can nominate the high school students for the highly successful event, which will return to Walt Disney World Resort Feb. 11-14, 2010. Students can even nominate themselves.

One hundred teens from across the country with big dreams and aspirations will be selected to pack their bags – and their dreams – and head to Walt Disney World Resort, where they will learn about careers in everything from culinary arts to animation, set design and show production to the business of sports and more.

The Disney's Dreamers Academy class of 2010 will be made up of teens nominated through Oct. 2, 2009. Young dreamers – who must be enrolled in high school for the 2009-10 term – can be nominated by anyone, including parents, guardians, teachers, church members, social organizations – even themselves. Although a high GPA is not required, students must exhibit a desire to learn, perhaps needing only additional motivational support to excel. Nomination forms can be found at www.SteveHarvey.com/disneysdreamersacademy.

A select panel of judges including national radio personality Steve Harvey, community leaders and Disney representatives will choose the 100 finalists. The Disney's Dreamers Academy class of 2010 will be announced in November 2009.

"We are very proud of the work we’ve done with Disney's Dreamers Academy," said Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney World Resort. "This program not only celebrates the achievements of the 200 students involved, it also demonstrates the part dreams play in realizing personal and professional goals."

During Disney's Dreamers Academy in 2010, the students will participate in workshops with Disney cast members and executives, hear inspirational stories from entertainment celebrities and professional athletes, and enjoy the Disney theme parks – where they can see, first-hand, the results of people who turned their dreams into careers as "Disney dreamers." During the 2009 Disney's Dreamers Academy, some of the guest speakers were Chef Jeff Henderson, National Football League Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow, pop/R&B recording artists Fantasia and Keyshia Cole, ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith and, of course, Steve Harvey.

Harvey said Disney's Dreamers Academy "is about inspiring our young people who oftentimes don't have the chance to be exposed to a variety of job skills and job opportunities and meet with people in the fields they're interested in. We want to give our young achievers the tools to become overachievers – to make their dreams a reality."