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The students at Canal Point Elementary have been doing awesome things in their budding journalist program, interviewing esteemed people like Oprah Winfrey and even President Barack Obama! KEC TV is an award winning television news program that is broadcasted to the 500 students at KEC/Canal Point Elementary. The news program is completely produced by a selected group of 4th and 5th grade students. Visit their Youtube channel to see more of their interviews.

Below check out their interviews with Raven Symone and Yolanda Adams at the 2011 Disney’s Dreamers Academy.

To find out more about the Disney’s Dreamers Academy and to apply visit www.disneysdreamersacademy.com; (applications for next year’s program are now available through October 31, 2011!).

Meet the 2011 Dreamers

The 2011 class of Disney’s Dreamers Academy truly is an extraordinary group of kids. These 100 young students come from all over the country, each representing a different path to the Disney’s Dreamers Academy, and each proving that with hard work and a little magic, your dreams really can come true. Discover the stories behind each member of this class and follow along on their journey as they aspire to make their dreams come true…



Continue reading to meet the Dreamers!

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To find out more about the Disney’s Dreamers Academy and to apply visit www.disneysdreamersacademy.com; (applications for next year’s program are now available through October 31, 2011!).

This year 110 high school students had an amazing experience at the Walt Disney World Resort where they were inspired to make their dreams reality. The students took part in Disney’s Dreamers Academy helmed by Steve Harvey and Essence Magazine. The weekend included motivational speakers, fun activities and enriching interactive work sessions designed to inspire them to follow their aspirations. The interactive workshops gave the Dreamers a look into fields ranging from Marine Biology to Journalism, to the Performing Arts and Culinary Arts.

Some of the speakers who encouraged and motivated them included: Ruben Studdard, Yolanda Adams, Mikki Taylor, Stephen A. Smith, Tamera Mowry, and keynote speaker Raven-Symone. For the first time in the four year history of Disney’s Dreamers Academy, five students were awarded internships, four with this year’s Essence Music Festival in New Orleans. Congrats to all of the Dreamers; check out the highlight video of the Academy below:

To find out more about the Disney’s Dreamers Academy and to apply visit www.disneysdreamersacademy.com; (applications for next year’s program are now available through October 31, 2011!).

Meet the 2011 Dreamers

The 2011 class of Disney’s Dreamers Academy truly is an extraordinary group of kids. These 100 young students come from all over the country, each representing a different path to the Disney’s Dreamers Academy, and each proving that with hard work and a little magic, your dreams really can come true. Discover the stories behind each member of this class and follow along on their journey as they aspire to make their dreams come true…

Continue reading to meet the Dreamers!

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Disney’s Friends for Change Grants is meant to help youth that are making environmentally friendly changes in their communities. Grants are open to schools, organizations and individuals planning service projects and will focus on projects implemented by children ages 5-18. (Source: Youth Venture)

For more information about how you can apply for the grant, visit www.disney.com/friendsforchange

A recent grant recipient was Olivia’s Bird Illustrations, who we wrote about in a previous post. Olivia is raising money through her artwork to help save animals affected by the oil spill in the Gulf Coast. She and the cast of Disney’s Camp Rock 2 recently cleaned up the Gulf of Mexico with Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup. Click here to see pictures of their big clean-up and watch supporters like Debby Ryan and Joe Jonas talking about the oil spill and how you can help below:

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2010 is a special year for actress and singer Keke Palmer, star of “True Jackson VP,” – she’ll be graduating from high school! Keke has announced a contest calling for all 2010 graduates to share how they helped make a change during the school year, for the chance to win a personal video from Keke.

Click here to visit her website to find out more about the contest and how to enter. Congrats to Keke and the Class of 2010!

Be sure to catch True Jackson VP Saturday nights at 7:30pm CT and stay tuned to her website, Twitter and blog for more news and upcoming music from Keke Palmer.

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Here’s a great opportunity for young women who are into journalism and media:

NikeWomen.com is searching for the One. A girl with crazy charisma and sports savvy to become the next Nike Field Reporter. She’ll hop across the continent to interview sports stars, music stars, rising stars and super stars.

She’ll chill with them. She’ll chat with them. She’ll challenge them. And report it all back in the form of videos and blog posts on
nikewomen.com.

Learn more about the contest and enter at:
http://inside.nike.com/blogs/nikewomen-en_US/2010/03/31/about-the-gig

Deadline: Contest ends April 30, 2010

Who’s eligible: A one-of-a-kind 18 to 24 year old with crazy charisma and sports savvy.

Check out the promo video below to see clips from past field reporters:

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Here’s a great opportunity for high school students with a passion for music. GRAMMY Camp, sponsored by the Grammy Foundation, is now accepting applications for summer 2010. The program is a ten-day residential camp that focuses on the music industry, held at the University of Southern California (USC) Thornton School of Music in Los Angeles.

GRAMMY Camp offers students the opportunity to work with GRAMMY-winning and -nominated professionals and industry specialists affiliated with The Recording Academy over a number of music industry career tracks. Over the past three years, approximately 70 percent of campers who applied for financial aid received assistance to this immersive, interactive and highly collaborative residential summer music camp. GRAMMY Camp is sponsored in part by Converse and Epiphone. At GRAMMY Camp, you’ll work, learn, and play with top music professionals from across the industry to kick your music career into high gear:

Musicians – Producers – Engineers – Music Journalists

Singer/Songwriters – Concert Promoters

The final application deadline is March 31, 2010, and for the first time applicants can submit their video essay and audition videos online at www.mystudio.net. Applicants in Los Angeles and Scottsdale, Ariz., can also record their application videos free of charge at MyStudio locations in those cities.

To apply CLICK HERE or visit http://www.grammyintheschools.com for more information, and for photos and blogs from previous years. Financial assistance is available; for questions call (800) 423-2017 ext. 8682 or email grammycamp@grammy.com.

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Here’s a great entrepreneurship opportunity for girls, the Girls Going Places Entrepreneurship Award Program. The contest is giving grants to girls who have creative business ideas. Visit http://www.girlsgoingplaces.com for more information, to see last years winners and to download an application.

Thanks to teen business coach Shonika Proctor from the Teen Entrepreneurship Blog for the heads up!

Description From the Website:

The Girls Going Places® Entrepreneurship Award Program is celebrating its prestigious 10th anniversary by opening its 2010 award program for entries.

Deadline: February 26, 2010. Submissions received after the deadline date will be entered in the 2011 competition.

See below for more info on the contest and local area conferences:

This annual Guardian initiative is designed to reward the enterprising spirits of girls ages 12 to 18. Guardian awards prizes to 15 girls who demonstrate budding entrepreneurship; are taking the first steps toward financial independence; and are making a difference in their schools and communities. Every year, prizes totaling $30,000 are granted to three top winners and 12 finalists to further their entrepreneurial pursuits or save for college.

Submissions will be accepted through February 26, 2010. Teachers, parents, and community members are encouraged to nominate accomplished young female entrepreneurs between the ages of 12 and 18. Adults can nominate girls by submitting a 750-word essay endorsing accomplished young female entrepreneurs. Nominees must also write a 250-word personal statement on entrepreneurship, leadership, financial independence, or giving back to the community.

The first, second and third place winners receive prizes of $10,000, $5,000 and $3,000, respectively. The 12 finalists are granted prizes of $1,000 each. Girls can use the award to reinvest in their entrepreneurial projects or to save for college.

Girls Going Places also has local area conferences that you can find about on the website:

Girls Going Places® Entrepreneurship Conferences. For young women today, economic independence is a viable route to the greater goal of self-reliance. To this end, Guardian sponsors one-day Girls Going Places® Entrepreneurship Conferences for girls ages 12-18, in conjunction with local agencies in various towns and cities. The conferences listed are designed to encourage financial literacy and help girls learn about starting businesses and managing personal finances. Successful local business women share their ideas and experience as mentors.

2010 Local Program Schedule

March 2010 Columbus, OH
March 2010 Pittsburgh, PA
April 2010 Jacksonville, FL
April 2010 Minneapolis, MN
May 2010 Ft Myers, FL
June 2010 Washington, DC
September 2010 Miami, FL
November 2010 West Palm, FL

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There is so much money out there going to waste, given by small and larger companies and organizations, just because people don’t apply. So take advantage of this, and even apply to the Duct Tape Prom Dress Scholarship (yes, it really exists!).

One scholarship you should definitely apply for is the Gates Millennium Scholarship. This scholarship was created by Bill Gates (of Microsoft), and his wife, and it is what allowed me to go to school pretty much for free! The scholarship is based on merit (your grades, community service, etc.) and financial need, and can cover everything that you might need as far as school and living expenses, based on need. Though the deadline for this year is January 11, I wouldn’t let this discourage you. I remember hearing about the scholarship late and pulling my application together a few days before it was due, and was excited that I was able to get it.

If you’re a senior this year, get your teachers to do recommendations quickly, and fill out the application as well as you can, because this is an opportunity not to be missed! If you’re a junior or sophomore, I would suggest you start early, getting your essays together now, and applying to scholarships available to younger students.

Some resources I would recommend that helped me to apply for scholarships are:

- Fastweb.com A great website where you can search for scholarships with a free scholarship matching service, get student financial aid and find money to pay for college.

- How to Go to College Almost for Free by Ben Kaplan – This book is fun to read and takes you through the whole scholarship application process. He gives you all types of tips like how to make the most of your past life experiences in your essays. Click here to visit the author Ben Kaplan’s website, he has so many tips for students on how they too can go to college for (almost) free.

- Peterson’s Scholarships, Grants & Prizes – Another big book of scholarships galore!

- Kaplan Scholarships 2008: Billions of Dollars in Free Money for College – This book lists scholarships in every area you can think of; there’s something for everybody!

- Here’s a list of 100 Scholarships for Minority Students that might help as well.

You can do it – get started on your path to success now… Happy scholarship searching – and winning!

- Julene, Editor Dreamer ENT

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Steve Harvey is looking for 100 students to take part in Disney’s Dreamers Academy (application deadline, Friday, October 2, 2009). The program “takes creative and imaginative teens from across the country & immerses them in a mind-blowing, life-changing experience they’ll never forget. The teens will have hands-on experience with Disney Cast Members, executives and celebrity guests, who all share their blueprints for success. For more information and to apply, go to www.steveharvey.com/disneysdreamersacademy.

Want to meet the 2009 Dreamers? Click here to read their profiles.

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