Baskin Ridge, N.J. high school freshman Sean Smith is one of the 100 students selected to participate in the 2018 Disney Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and Essence at Walt Disney World in Florida. The annual four-day event brings students from across the nation to the theme park to learn important skills, such as communication techniques, leadership qualities and networking strategies.
Smith, 14, left for the trip Thursday and said that his mother encouraged him to write an essay and apply for the program.
“For the past year my mom has been listening to the Steve Harvey Morning Show and she would tell me about it until I got old enough to apply,” he said. “This year, I applied and I got in.”
In his essay, Smith talked about his aspirations to be in aviation and fly planes. As a child he was fascinated by airplanes and wanted to know more about them. He is a member of the N85 Aerospace Club at Alexandria Field Airport.
Smith found out he won the trip while on ABC’s “Good Morning America” where Mickey Mouse and other Disney World officials told him he won.
“I didn’t really think at all that there was that big of chance I would win,” he said. “I knew there has to be lots of other people that applied and I’m happy that I was picked.”
Smith said he also enjoys playing football and basketball, riding his bike and using the flight simulator he built in his home.