In 2026, David Almeida (‘29), a hardworking freshman at Green Hope, was chosen as a Disney Dreamers class of 2026 member. From early July to October 2025, applications for the annual Disney Dreamers Academy were opened. This included three short answer questions, and three essays talking about who the applicant is and what they hope to achieve in the future. In this 4 day program, he gained more experience and knowledge about different skills, and how to better accomplish his dream of creating rides for Disney.
The Disney Dreamers Academy is a multi-day event where students get to work with and learn from business leaders, celebrities, authors and more in order to gain better abilities and broaden their horizon on the world. This academy is reserved for ages 13-19 and for those who possess exceptional skills in their desired goals in life. The most important requirements to gain acceptance into the academy are exemplary qualities like intellectual curiosity, courage, maturity and optimism. From construction work to journalism, no matter the profession, each student is prepared for the future they desire to live in, learning different techniques like developing networking skills, how to dress for success and other skills that give students an edge in the workplace.
Almeida has worked hard not only for a spot in the Disney Dreamers Academy or with his school work, but in his everyday life as well. Mr. Moran, one of Almeida’s last semester teachers, commented, “I’d say David was exemplary not just with his academic work, but how personable he is, the good attitude he has and how sociable he is. Every class he just brought a really positive, mature energy to the classroom everyday. The fact that he won does not really surprise me, he is very outgoing. He’s just that kind of guy who’s really good at expressing himself and getting along with others.”
When asked about his experience in the Disney Dreamers Academy, Almeida stated, “It was really fun and inspiring and I learned a lot while I was there and I met a lot of great people. I met some celebrities and some actors. I also met a lot of book writers and people who were interested in what I want to do. This is just a really big opportunity and I’m really glad I got to be a part of it.”
Almeida’s time at the Disney Dreamers Academy gave him insight, intelligence and a better understanding of how to accomplish his goals. With him being able to get into the academy as a freshman, this shows that no matter what grade someone is or how experienced they are, they can always become a dreamer. But even if someone isn’t accepted, they still have many other opportunities to grow and gain more knowledge so that they can one accomplish their goals in life.
