For eighteen years, Disney Dreamers Academy has selected inspiring students to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime mentorship initiative created by Disney. Established in 2008 at Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Dreamers Academy started what would become an impressive and highly-regarded tradition, inspiring more than 1700 carefully selected high school students to dream big. Each from varying backgrounds and communities nationwide, one hundred students will be guided through the 2025 expert mentorship program and encouraged to dream beyond imagination. Walt Disney World Resort in Florida plays host to this five-day immersive and transformational program, where for 100 students, dreams really do come true.
This year, students are in for a surprise with a celebrity lineup joining the mentor program, including celebrated musicians, actors, aerospace engineers, fashion stylists, renowned educators, designers, producers, and Disney executives. Some of the first names to be announced include Tyler James Williams, Tamela Mann, and Adam Blackstone. Read more from The Walt Disney Company below:
Golden Globe-winning actor Tyler James Williams, along with Grammy Award-winning artists Tamela Mann and Adam Blackstone, will serve as magical mentors for this year’s Disney Dreamers Academy, the popular Walt Disney World Resort mentoring program that supercharges the career dreams of high school students nationwide and kicks off in Florida this week.
Williams, who first gained fame for his role in the hit sitcom Everybody Hates Chris and now plays Gregory Eddie in ABC’s Emmy Award winning comedy Abbott Elementary, will be the program’s ‘DREAMbassador’, meaning he will spend significant time during the March 26-30 event interacting with the 100 Disney Dreamers by sharing his career journey, participating in several career focused workshops and serving as a key figure at the always emotional commencement ceremony.
Blackstone, a renowned musician, bassist, musical director and producer known for his work with top R&B musical artists, will offer students insights into the urgency and tenacity that fueled his rise from playing drums as a toddler in his local church to collaborating with some of the biggest names in music and television. Blackstone won his first Grammy Award for best musical theater album for Hell’s Kitchen.
Mann, who won a Grammy Award for best gospel performance/song, will participate in the event along with her well-known husband David, an actor and comedian famous for portraying ‘Mr. Brown’ in Tyler Perry’s Madea films and House of Payne.
Other celebrity participants include comedian and radio host Rickey Smiley; soft rock band Infinity Song; fashion influencer Jerome Lamaar; and New York’s Hot 97 radio personality DJ Suss One, among others.
