BALTIMORE, MD — Two Baltimore-area high school students are heading to Walt Disney World Resort this spring after being selected for the prestigious 2026 Disney Dreamers Academy, a nationally recognized mentoring and leadership program designed to inspire and empower students from culturally diverse communities.
Out of thousands of applicants from across the country, Rhyan Gray of Windsor Mill and Kofi Hair-Ralston of Baltimore were named among just 100 students nationwide chosen for the immersive, multi-day experience, which will take place in March at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Disney announced the 2026 class ahead of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, reinforcing the program’s mission to encourage students to dream big and pursue their goals with confidence.
Created by Walt Disney World, Disney Dreamers Academy is a career-focused initiative that provides high-achieving high school students with mentorship, leadership development, and exposure to a wide range of professional pathways. Throughout the program, students engage in interactive workshops and seminars led by Disney executives, educators, and celebrities, all designed to strengthen communication, leadership, and networking skills.
In addition to professional development, Dreamers experience the creativity and innovation that define Walt Disney World through immersive activities across the resort’s iconic theme parks—bringing learning to life in a uniquely inspiring environment.
Selected students and a parent or guardian receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Walt Disney World Resort. Applicants are chosen based on essays highlighting their personal stories, academic interests, and aspirations for the future.
Graduates of Disney Dreamers Academy have gone on to become storytellers, artists, engineers, journalists, innovators, and entrepreneurs, with many returning as mentors to support future Dreamers.
The selection of Rhyan Gray and Kofi Hair-Ralston underscores the talent, ambition, and promise of Baltimore-area youth and highlights the city’s continued impact on national stages of leadership and excellence.
For more information, visit DisneyDreamersAcademy.com. Updates are also available on social media at Facebook.com/DisneyDreamersAcademy and Instagram.com/disneydreamersacademy.