Giving Thanks for Disney Aspire

Text: Disney Aspire Dreams within reach.

Now is the time of year when we think about what we’re thankful for, and that is especially true for our Disney Aspire participants and graduates. Since its debut in 2018, Disney Aspire has enabled thousands of employees and cast members with the opportunity to pursue their dreams by providing 100% tuition paid up front at our network of learning partners and universities. 

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Making the Dreams You Wish Come True

Fran on Main Street USA at Disneyland Resort, Text: Disney CastLife Disney Aspire

Since 1950, Disney’s Cinderella has taught us that if we keep believing, our dreams will come true. And there’s no better testament to a dream-come-true than the story of Fran Melendez, merchandise hostess at Disneyland Resort.

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Thank You For Your Service: Military Veterans Make Careers with ESPN

Featured Image for Blog that includes one headshot of Anita Adams and one headshot of Jonathan Williams, both military veterans and ESPN employees.

We understand that it takes dedication, drive and leadership to serve your country, which is why ESPN is excited to once again broadcast the Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 22, the bowl game that salutes our nation’s military and their families! Every day, ESPN makes a commitment to celebrate and support military veterans and their families. Heroes Work Here at The Walt Disney Company is a company-wide initiative to hire, train and support returning veterans, including on teams at ESPN. We recently spoke with two military veterans creating careers with ESPN about their service and current roles with the company.

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HBCU Week: Aspire to Achieve Your Dreams

Quen Mitchel with the characters Jack and Sally, Text: Disney Aspire Celebrates HBCUs

It’s National HBCU Week – a week designed to celebrate historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and the advancement of educational equity, excellence, and economic opportunity across the United States. Meet Quen Mitchell, a Disney Vacation Club Membership Advisor and Disney Aspire participant pursuing her B.S. in Information Technology as part of the very first group of students who selected NC A&T State University to put their #DreamsWithinReach. 

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Disney General Entertainment’s Writing Program Names 2022 Participants

Photo collage of the 12 DGE Writing Program participants, Text: Disney General Entertainment Content

Disney General Entertainment (DGE) proudly announces the writers selected for its 2022 Writing Program and names the recipient of Disney Branded Television’s Eunetta T. Boone Comedy Writer’s Scholarship, established in 2020 by Disney Channel in honor of the late writer/producer for diverse and aspiring comedy writers.

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Launching the Disney Wish Cruise Ship: Patricia Duerr, Product Management Director

Headshot of Patricia Duerr, Text: Patricia Duerr Product Management Director, DPEP

Patricia Duerr is a Product Management Director with the Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Technology & Digital organization. In her role, she supports Disney Cruise Line digital products such as the Navigator app and the Disney Cruise Line website. She recently was on the opening team for the Disney Wish, the newest ship to join the Disney Cruise Line family. Learn more about Patricia’s role and her experience contributing to a new ship.

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2022 Disney Accelerator Participants Announced

Text: Disney Accelerator

Last month, The Walt Disney Company announced the six companies that will be joining the 2022 Disney Accelerator, a business development program designed to accelerate the growth of innovative companies from around the world. This year’s Disney Accelerator class is focused on building the future of immersive experiences and specializes in technologies such as augmented reality (AR), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and artificial intelligence (AI) characters. See who is joining the program this year.

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Celebrating Four Years of Disney Aspire

In the last year alone, the Disney Aspire network has expanded to include North Carolina A&T, Johnson & Wales University, Fullerton College, and Cal State Fullerton. And that’s just the beginning! We had the chance to catch up with two of the leaders responsible for helping to bring this program to life each day: Chris Trout, vice president of learning and development and Tonya Cornileus, senior vice president of learning and talent solutions. Let’s check in as they reflect on the past four years and everything that’s coming in the future for this one-of-a-kind program.  

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