That moment when dreams come true! 5,000+ high schoolers from 120 schools in Florida and even more from across the country just attended the HBCU Week Foundation College Fair at Walt Disney World.

Many received on-the-spot college admissions and scholarships were also awarded by some of the nation’s top Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).  

Here’s a look at all the extra special magic and happy moments that went down, including an iconic performance from Drum Major Mickey Mouse thanks to our friends at Disney on the Yard.

The HBCU Week Foundation College Fair offers a chance for students to meet with representatives from 30+ HBCUs and picture what’s possible for their futures. The mission is to encourage high schoolers to enroll in HBCUs, provide scholarship dollars and create a pipeline from campus to career.

This is the second time that Disney on the Yard and the HBCU Week Foundation have teamed up for this event at Walt Disney World, and it was one of the foundation’s largest college fairs to date with most attendees coming from counties and communities here in Central Florida.

Remember when I said Drum Major Mickey Mouse stopped by? Well, he wasn’t alone. He was joined by Florida A&M University Drum Major Jonathan Boyce and Bethune-Cookman University Drum Major Jared Adkins.

Among the many attendees was one superstar standout, Beth Elia. Beth came to the college fair with an impressive 4.3 GPA and a dream to become the first in her family to attend college.

I’m ecstatic to share that her dream is coming true! She is one of the many students who were surprised with a scholarship at the event, receiving a $50,000 scholarship to one of her top schools of choice, Bethune-Cookman University.

“I’m so excited! My mom heard about my acceptance, and she’s so proud of me. She texted me right after,” Beth said. “I don’t know who taught her how to send GIFs, but she’s been sending them back-to-back since!”

On top of being a star scholar at Evans High School in Orange County, Beth is also a student Ambassador at ELEVATE Orlando, a Florida nonprofit we work closely with to help local students build their talents and become who they imagine they can be.

Once in college, Beth plans to study criminology with the hopes of one day becoming an FBI agent. She also hopes that her story can inspire others in her community, including her fellow ELEVATE classmates and younger siblings.

Disney on the Yard was started as a way to create a space of fellowship for cast members who resonated with Historically Black Colleges and Universities. It has grown and evolved beyond our cast and HBCU campuses to the Divine Nine Black Greek fraternities and sororities and other professional organizations, institutions and events like this college fair. 

These events help to provide students with access to the education they need to achieve their dreams. I certainly had a blast, and I can’t wait to see the students from this year’s HBCU Week Foundation College Fair step to the beat of their own drum as they march into their bright futures!