ABC Breaking News | Latest News Videos Disney does everything with magic. To announce the new class of the Disney Dreamers Academy five students and their families were flown to New York City and told they were part of the program live on Good Morning America. For the last decade, ESSENCE has partnered with Disney and Steve Harvey to power the magical weekend of education and exploration for dynamic high school students from around the country. Ayanna Adams and Ava Marie Easter from Los Angeles, Christiana Okafor from Houston, Marquis Thomas from Virginia Beach and Sean Smith from Basking Ridge, N.J. were shocked as they learned their applications had been accepted and they were headed to Disney World! Mickey Mouse, Tracey D. Powell, Walt Disney World Resort vice president of commercial management – resorts and Disney Dreamers Academy executive champion and former Dreamers were on set to share and celebrate the exciting news. The surprised students will be a part of the class of 2018, the 11th year of the program. “Each of these 100 girls and boys has proven themselves to be exceptional as students and as human beings, so it’s an honor to have them join us at Walt Disney World Resort,” Tracey D. Powell, Walt Disney World Resort vice president of commercial management – resorts and Disney Dreamers Academy executive champion shared. “It is our hope that this potentially life-changing program will help create the next generation of great dreamers and achievers.” Since the Disney Dreamers Academy inception in 2008, ESSENCE has proudly partnered with this incredible event shaping the lives of the world’s next leaders. Past speakers include Patti LaBelle, Mary J. Blige, Magic Johnson, Yolanda Adams, Carla Hall and Michael Strahan. More than 1,000 students plus a guardian have participated in the all-expenses-paid annual program that gives dreamers hands-on experience in their area of interest from zoology to law and communications. ” At ESSENCE, we are committed to impacting the leaders of tomorrow,” said Michelle Ebanks, president of ESSENCE Communications. “Every year, we continue to be impressed by the exceptional students selected for Disney Dreamers Academy, and it is our privilege to play a role in encouraging them to achieve their goals.” For more information, visit DisneyDreamersAcademy.com. Regular updates about Disney Dreamers Academy are also available on social media at Facebook/DisneyDreamersAcademy or Twitter/DreamersAcademy