PRESS ROOM: Disney Dreamers Academy Makes Young Entrepreneur’s Dream Come True With Visit to ‘Shark Tank’

Disney Dreamer Academy 2024 Participant Te’Lario Watkins II Joined Investor Daymond John as Personal Guest at ‘Shark Tank’ Taping; Two Other Academy Students Also Have Magical Experiences; Applications and Nominations Now Open for Walt Disney World 2025 Mentoring Event

NEW ORLEANS, LA. – One day after applications for the Disney Dreamers Academy 2025 opened, one of the academy’s recent graduates, budding entrepreneur Te’Lario Watkins II of Ohio, experienced a dream come true through his participation in the Walt Disney World Resort mentorship program. Watkins, 16, recently spent an afternoon on the set of ABC’s hit series “Shark Tank” as a personal guest of investor Daymond John, who was inspired to fuel Watkins’ entrepreneurial dreams after interacting with him at the Disney Dreamers Academy 2024 at Walt Disney World Resort this spring.

John, who was one of several celebrity mentors at the Disney event this year, was impressed by Watkins’ story of running his own mushroom farm, Tiger Mushroom Farms, since he was seven years old and starting his own nonprofit, Garden Club Project, to combat food insecurity in his community. Walt Disney World arranged for Watkins and his father to be flown from their home in Blacklick, Ohio, to Los Angeles, California, where John gave Watkins an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the show’s set, connected him with other entrepreneurs and introduced him to the show’s other “sharks.” The highlight for Watkins was getting the opportunity to learn John’s business strategies, gain entrepreneurial insights and general life lessons. These experiences helped John become one of the most famous self-made millionaires of his generation, and the Disney Dreamers Academy gave him another opportunity to share them.

“I was so excited to meet Daymond John again,” Watkins said. “I wouldn’t be here without being a part of DDA. To high school students: applying to DDA would be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make in your life.” Disney announced at the ESSENCE of Culture festival in New Orleans, Louisiana, that applications for the 2025 event are now open at http://www.DisneyDreamersAcademy.com, where high school students interested in making their dreams come true can be nominated or apply themselves.

Disney Dreamers Academy is an annual four-day transformational program at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida designed to expand the career and personal development of a select group of 100 teens from Black and underrepresented communities across America. The 100 selected students will receive an all-expenses-paid trip, with a parent or guardian, to Walt Disney World Resort to experience a combination of inspiration, education and fun in the most magical place on Earth. Students participate in in-depth workshops in a variety of disciplines aligned with their dreams. These workshops introduce Disney Dreamers to career paths in business, entertainment and science, including career opportunities with The Walt Disney Company.

Watkins was just one of many teens in this year’s Disney Mentoring Program who got the experience of a lifetime after attending the event. Elijah Moore of Norfolk, Virginia, an aspiring producer and musician, flew to Los Angeles where he received a special tour of Dolby and Walt Disney Studios, to name a few. Orlando Ecung of Los Angeles, who dreams of becoming an entrepreneur, attended the world premiere of “Inside Out 2” as a special guest of Walt Disney Studios. Over the years, the Disney Dreamers Academy has inspired more than 1,700 students from across the country. Graduates have gone on to become doctors, engineers, entertainers, entrepreneurs, Disney cast members and more. Some have become mentors to the Disney Dreamers who have followed them.

The Disney Dreamers Academy is an important part of Disney’s commitment to supporting diverse communities by encouraging the next generation to dream big and use what they learn in their relentless pursuit of their dreams to help make a difference in the lives of others.

For more information, visit DisneyDreamersAcademy.com or follow us on social media at Facebook.com/DisneyDreamersAcademy and Instagram.com/disneydreamersacademy/.

About Disney Dreamers Academy:

Established by Walt Disney World in 2008, the mission of Disney Dreamers Academy is to inspire teens from Black and underrepresented communities to dream beyond imagination by providing lifetime access to personalized support for Disney Dreamers, their caregivers and the community through insightful content and inspiring experts, mentors and sponsors. Each year, 100 high school students are offered a trip to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida to experience this immersive and transformative four-day program.

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