1 / 23

Day 1: Welcome Parade - Fun, inspirational and empowering times were had at the 2015 Disney Dreamers Academy, held annually at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. One-hundred outstanding high school students from around the country engaged in the four-day program with media mogul Steve Harvey and Essence magazine. BET.com was down in Orlando following the Dreamers' activities. Take a look at photos and highlights from the event held March 5 to 8. — Natelege Whaley (@Natelege_) In this photo, Steve Harvey, Tracey D. Powell, executive champion for Disney Dreamers Academy, and Mikki Taylor, editor-at-large for Essence magazine, lead the welcome parade at the Magic Kingdom to kick off the Academy's events.  (Photo: Gregg Newton/Walt Disney) 

2 / 23

The Chance of a Lifetime - A group of students from Atlanta were all smiles and waved at the crowd as they proudly marched and represented for their city during the special parade to kick off the Disney Dreamers Academy. The highly selective program is sponsored by Walt Disney World. Students were chosen from a pool of nearly 10,000 applicants for this year's program. (Photo: Gregg Newton/ Walt Disney)

3 / 23

Welcome Ceremony - Following the parade, Disney dropped streamers and confetti to celebrate the Dreamers during the Welcome Ceremony Thursday, March 5. Princeton Parker (right), a Dreamers Academy alumnus and motivational speaker, promised an exciting and transformative week and reflected on his own experience. "At the end of those four days I found direction with what I could do with my gift," said Parker. Tracey D. Powell reminded the students they were a special bunch who were chosen because they exhibited the traits of being a "leader and dreamer." (Photo: Gregg Newton/ Walt Disney)

4 / 23

Mikki Taylor Offers Words of Wisdom - "Recognize that starting right now you are stepping into the future you want to own through this incomparable experience which is the Dreamers Academy," Taylor told the students at the Welcome Ceremony.  (Photo: Gregg Newton/ Walt Disney)

5 / 23

Steve Harvey Gets Personal - In between jokes and chuckles, Harvey kept it real about his own personal journey of success. "My dream was to be on TV when I was 10. I didn't get on until I was 38," he said. "You can rise above anything if you have a big enough imagination," he continued. (Photo: Gregg Newton/ Walt Disney)

6 / 23

Day 2: Breakfast and Introductions - Dreamers got up bright and early Friday to start their second day at the Academy with a buffet-style breakfast of fruit, yogurt, eggs, tater tots and bacon. The event was a family affair as Karli and Wynton Harvey hosted along with Princeton Parker. Here, Harvey introduces a dreamer, also named Karlie, from Ohio. (Photo: Todd Anderson/ Walt Disney)

7 / 23

Jonathan Sprinkles Tells Dreamers to Be Unique - Following breakfast, Dreamers moved their chairs closer to the stage and heard from the first motivational speaker, Jonathan Sprinkles. He encouraged the students to use struggle to make them stronger and to "live above the labels" to celebrate their differences. "I want them to know they have the permission to be excellent...to dream," Sprinkles told BET.com. "Many of us have it but we suppress it." (Photo: Todd Anderson/ Walt Disney)

8 / 23

T.J. Jakes Gives Message of Perservance - Pastor T.D. Jakes told students that they will have to overcome giants to reach levels of success but insisted that if they don't quit they would win. "When they leave here they must be sure to change the story and the narrative that they tell themselves to reflect where they're going rather than where they are or where they've been," Jakes told BET.com. (Photo: Todd Anderson/ Walt Disney)

9 / 23

Deep-Dives Give Students Preview to Careers - Award-winning Chef Jeff Henderson led a culinary deep-dive on Friday. Aspiring cooks Thomasena Thomas (left) of Effingham, South Carolina, and Nylah Davis (right) of Victorville, California, take pointers and left one-step closer to achieving their top chef dreams. Disney chef Derick Messenger also helped guide students. There was something for all students who also attended deep-dives in journalism, animation, medicine, acting, music and much more. (Photo: Gregg Newton/Walt Disney)

10 / 23

Future Engineers Get Creative - Future engineers Amira Spikes (left) of Denton, Texas, and Kaeani Covington (right) of San Antonio, Texas, participated in a workshop called "Engineering the Dream." Students were divided up into groups and conceptualized and designed a park attraction and learned about financing it.  (Photo: Todd Anderson/Walt Disney)

11 / 23

Day 3: Tied to Greatness - On Saturday, the girls and boys were divided up and attended image awareness workshops. Dr. Alex Ellis, chief executive officer of Simply Ellis Custom Clothier, took over the guys and gave them a crash course on tying a tie. These Dreamers will always look the part now. (Photo: Gregg Newton/Walt Disney)

12 / 23

Ladies Learn How to Dress for Success - Karli and Brandi Harvey made sure the young ladies in the Dreamers Academy learned how to dress for any occasion, whether casual, business or formal. Dreamer Aakilah Cameron can be seen here modeling with confidence for her peers. (Photo: Todd Anderson/ Walt Disney)

13 / 23

Students Enjoy Free Time Around the Parks - When Dreamers weren't engaging in their many learning activities, they took some downtime to walk around and enjoy the park's attractions. Disney Dreamers (left to right) Kayla McDonald, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Miqual Baylor, of Philadelphia, Taja Guidry, of Beaumont, Texas, Sabrina Belcher, of Princeton, West Virginia, Tony Monroe, of Mount Laurel, New Jersey, and (front row) Tia Cage, of New Orleans were sharing in the excitement of having just experienced the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. (Photo: Gregg Newton/Walt Disney)

14 / 23

Coco Jones and Jaylen Bledsoe Talk Success With Rocsi - On Saturday night, students were lucky to gain success tips during a conversations panel moderated by HLN's The Daily Share anchor Rocsi Diaz. First up, singer and Disney actress Coco Jones gave advice alongside teen millionaire Jaylen Bledsoe. "Don't let your setback allow you to sit back," said Bledsoe. Jones said she was proud of the students. "You guys keep going and keep learning and stuff is going to work out for you," she assured. (Photo: Walt Disney)

15 / 23

Dex Tanksley and Monica Barnes Bring Their Insight  - Disney Imagineer Dex Tanksley and Steve Harvey Morning Show producer Monica Barnes added their own tips for success. "Stay ready so you don't have to get ready," said Barnes. Tanksley also added the most important part of success, "You need to follow through."  (Photo: Gregg Newton/Walt Disney)

16 / 23

Terrence J, Lamman Rucker, Will Packer Stir Up Laughs for Panel - E! News co-anchor Terrence Jenkins, actor Lamman Rucker and filmmaker Will Packer served up some jokes for the last segment of the panel and also spoke about the importance of a great work ethic. "Surround yourselves with positive influences," Terrence J said. "Nobody can define your success but you," Will Packer told students. (Photo: Todd Anderson/Walt Disney)

17 / 23

Day 4: Yolanda Adams Brings Down the House at Dreamers' Graduation - At graduation on the final day, gospel singer Yolanda Adams delivered moving performances of her song with Donald Lawrence, "Best for Last," and a cover of R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly." The crowd was brought to their feet after each rendition. The students also enjoyed a live performance of the Frozen theme song, "Let It Go," by Disney entertainers.  (Photo: Gregg Newton/ Walt Disney)

18 / 23

Michelle Ebanks Says Failure Made Her Better - President of Essence Communications, Michelle Ebanks, offered some uplifting parting words at the commencement ceremony. She spoke on almost being fired from her first job, but bouncing back to becoming one of the top employees in the company. "You can't let anyone count you out." (Photo: Todd Anderson/ Walt Disney)

19 / 23

Michael Strahan Surprises Students - “LIVE! With Kelly and Michael” co-host and former NFL star Michael Strahan reminded students to never stop learning while on the road to success. "Figure out a way to always learn...to always grow."  (Photo: Gregg Newton/Walt Disney)

Photo By Photo: Gregg Newton/Walt Disney

20 / 23

Superlatives! - (From left to right) Nikki Distefano was given the award for Courage, Caysi Ingram was given the award for Constancy, Ashley Tousana was given the award for Curiosity and Elizabeth Nalunga was given the award for Confidence. Jonathan Johnson (far right) was named the Dreamer of the Year. He plans to attend Juilliard in the fall and "wants to be the greatest entertainer of all time" and help others. (Photo: Todd Anderson/ Walt Disney)

21 / 23

More Giveaways and Opportunities for Dreamers - (From left to right) Kourtney Smith and Shanesia Abrams were excited to be awarded internship opportunities at the forthcoming Essence music festival. Both young women dream of becoming public relations professionals in the entertainment industry.  (Photo: Todd Anderson/ Walt Disney)

Photo By Photo: Todd Anderson/ Walt Disney

22 / 23

Dreamers' Rings - As a way to commemorate the week of events, parents and guardians placed a special Disney Dreamers Academy ring on the fingers of the students. Students expressed gratitude to their parents and hugs were given and tears were shed all over the room.   (Photo: Todd Anderson/ Walt Disney)

23 / 23

Congratulations to the Dreamers Academy Class of 2015! - "Go do your gift," Steve Harvey said to the class during the ceremony. "Do the gift God gave you to do."  (Photo: Todd Anderson/Walt Disney)