ORLANDO, Fla – Teens bid an emotional farewell at the commencement ceremony on Sunday, the final day of the Disney Dreamers Academy (DDA) at Walt Disney World.
The four-day event concluded with a ceremony breakfast that featured speeches from Commercial Strategy for Walt Disney World Resorts, Sivonne Davis, former Disney Dreamer Princeton Parker, Disney Ambassador Shannon Smith-Conrad, motivational speaker Lisa Nichols, gospel singers and actors David and Tamala Mann and DDA “DREAMbassador” actor Tyler James Williams.
The Dreamers and their families were also treated to musical performances by Tamala Mann and Adrian Lyles.
Motivational speakers and mentors gave their final words of advice to the Dreamers before going home. The teens were encouraged to take what they learned and share it with their peers.
Photos by Cyril Josh Barker
Capping off a weekend of direct mentoring with the teens, Williams spoke to them at the commencement about reaching their goals and the importance of what they learned.
“This has been such an incredible weekend,” Williams said to the students. “What I’ve seen in you all is nothing short of extraordinary. You are all going to go out in the world and make big, incredible strides and it’s been so cool to watch the way your paths are already starting to take shape.”
Several Dreamers were honored at the commencement for their outstanding efforts during DDA and also got some surprises.
Alex Onwuli of Houston, Texas will embark on an educational trip with National Geographic to Washington DC; Tristian Williams of Pompano Beach, Fla, will experience weightlessness like an astronaut when he takes flight during the Zero-G Astronaut Experience; and aspiring filmmaker Charlie Arnold of Phillipsburg, N.J., will take a private tour of the Dolby Studios in Hollywood.
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Colin Sproles, 18, from Little Rock, Ark., was elected Dreamer of the Year. Sproles is student-body president at his high school, captain of the football team and an honor roll student. He’s attending college in the fall and wants to go into medicine and ministry. Sproles’ family won an all-expenses-paid vacation to Walt Disney World and Disney Cruise Line.
“I am totally elated to be the Disney Dreamer of the year,” Sproles told the AmNews. “From the moment I walked in the door to now that [I’m] leaving, I’m a changed man. I’ve learned so many life lessons and things that are going to get me through life and help me achieve these dreams.”
Video by Cyril Josh Barker
Also during the commencement, Walt Disney Company Senior Vice President, Consumer Insight, Measurement, & Analytics and former DDA Executive Champion Tracey Powell was honored for her work with the program. Powell served as DDA Executive Champion for 16 years and mentored countless students during her tenure.
“It takes consistency and perseverance to create the Disney Dreamers Academy culture that permeates through the cast,” Powell said. “Disney Dreamers, by sharing your stories and trusting Disney to help cultivate those dreams, you are trailblazing the way for future successes.”
The ceremony ended with the parents giving the Dreamers rings as a symbol of their achievement and their pledge to strive for greatness.
The Disney Dreamers Academy is a once-in-a-lifetime educational and mentoring program for a select group of 100 high school students. The students were selected from thousands of applicants nationwide.
Along with a parent or guardian, each teen received an all-expense-paid trip to Walt Disney World Resort, where they learned important networking skills and participated in hands-on career workshops.
Disclosure: The Walt Disney Company paid for the travel and accommodations for several media outlets, including the AmNews, to cover the Disney Dreamers Academy. Disney did not review or approve any of our coverage.