Kinston High freshman one of 100 chosen for Disney Dreamers Academy

A Kinston High School freshman is one of 100 students from across the United States invited to attend the 2019 Disney Dreamers Academy, a four-day leadership development program that attracts thousands of applications each year.

Nicholas Harvey III was selected for the academy’s Class of 2019 on the basis of three essays and written responses to questions about leadership and leaders he admires.

“I mostly said people like my grandfather, who is a lawyer in Kinston,” Nicholas said. “I also said LeBron James because of the way he impacts so many things.”

Students chosen for the March 21-24 program receive, along with a parent or guardian, an all-expense-paid trip to Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Nicholas plans to travel with his mother. He is the 14-year-old son of Nicholas and Erin Harvey of Kinston.

Disney Dreamers Academy is open to high school students ages 13-19 and gives attendees access to career workshops, to educational sessions geared to developing interpersonal skills and to guest mentors. This year’s academy will feature TV personality and philanthropist Steve Harvey.

“I think what I’ll get out of the workshops and things is that I’ll learn how to handle leadership better and become better at leading people and listening and just becoming a better person in general,” Nicholas said.

He was inspired to apply to the program after a friend who attended last year “told me it was a great experience,” he said. “She had a lot of fun learning and listening to the guest speakers, listening to them talk about leadership.”

His principal thinks Nicholas already shows leadership characteristics. “I am extremely proud of Nicholas and the initiative he takes to pursue opportunities that extend his learning experiences,” Kellan Bryant said. “What an honor to be selected in the top 100 out of thousands of applicants across the country for Disney Dreamers.”

As a Kinston High freshman, Nicholas played varsity football, plays JV basketball and favors subjects related to science.