Dream come true: On-the-spot scholarships offered during HBCU Week at Walt Disney World

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida — As Juliana Tellez stepped off the bus along with her fellow schoolmates and onto the grounds of Walt Disney World Resorts’ ESPN World Huge of Sports activities, she could not assist however take into consideration the long run.

“We’re turning into adults and beginning the subsequent chapter of our lives,” she stated.

For Tellez, that subsequent chapter includes going to school. She and 1000’s of different college students took steps towards that objective by attending the HBCU Week faculty truthful, which, for the primary time, is being held at Disney World.

It is a faculty truthful the place college students get much more than simply info on their college of selection.

“You possibly can actually get a scholarship on the spot,” stated Samantha Salcedo, a highschool senior.

“I am the primary in my household to go to school,” stated senior Kemani Thompson. “My dad and mom did not go… so I might be first technology.”

Roughly 7,000 college students attended the faculty truthful, filling up the cubicles of greater than 40 Traditionally Black Schools and Universities who despatched representatives to the HBCU Week School Truthful.

Delaware State College was among the many faculties providing on-the-spot scholarships.

Keith Forman obtained one in all them.

“It feels superb,” he stated after getting a full-ride scholarship. “Thanks guys a lot. Oh my God!”

Just one hour into the HBCU truthful, Livingston School had already given away six full-ride scholarships.

With the entire college students, faculties and celebration, the scene was virtually unbelievable to the lady who based HBCU Week in 2017 in Wilmington, Delaware.

“That is one thing we could not have dreamed about or requested for,” stated HBCU Week Founder/CEO Ashley Christopher. “It is unbelievable.”

Christopher watched HBCU Week develop from 700 college students to now being embraced by Disney on the Yard, which is a program meant to authentically have interaction with HBCU communities.

“Bringing this faculty truthful to Walt Disney World Resort, I haven’t got the phrases apart from to say my coronary heart is stuffed and we’re altering lives,” stated Avis Lewis, vice chairman of human assets for the Walt Disney Firm.

The need to unfold tradition and appreciation for HBCU’S can be the explanation ESPN’S Stephen A. Smith started supporting HBCU Week years in the past. He’s now the model ambassador, bringing his present “First Take” first to the unique HBCU Week and now to Disney World Resorts the place the present broadcast from on Friday.

“It’ll open the doorways of increased schooling to lots of people who may not have thought they’d ever have that chance,” stated Smith.

Probably the most emotional second of the day got here on the principle stage of the faculty truthful, when highschool senior Djahnel Reid was introduced with a verify for $50,000 from Disney on the Yard and one other $25,000 from Bethune-Cookman School. She burst into tears, overwhelmed at the truth that her faculty desires had some true.

“All I can do is simply thank God,” she stated. “I got here from a household that is deprived…I can go to school with no debt.”

Christopher is glad to see her work founding HBCU Week proceed in such a robust means by way of the partnership with Disney, which can assist much more faculty desires come true.

“We’re in Disney World,” she stated. “We make magic right here.”