Chapel Hill High School sophomore Vianna Fornville has been selected for the 2025 Disney Dreamers Academy, the first student from both the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools district and Orange County to be chosen.
She will join 99 other young adults this spring at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, for conferences and workshops focused on leadership and personal growth.
“We will learn from different celebrities and leaders about their respective fields and careers and how we can change the world through our own careers,” Fornville said.
Fornville is eager to gain leadership skills from the program.
“I want to learn so much there, but I also want to use it as a networking opportunity because I know that everyone who is going does incredible things,” she said.
The program is designed for students who are passionate about pursuing their dreams and serving their communities.
“[Fornville] embodies all of the characteristics of a Disney Dreamer—optimism, courage, compassion, intellectual curiosity,” Fornville’s French teacher Christen Campbell said.
Fornville is a leader in multiple community-oriented groups. She serves as secretary for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) youth branch and president of the Youth Leadership Institute (YLI). Both organizations work to advance civil rights.
“These clubs have given me the capacity to grow as a leader,” Fornville said.
She is also a member of the cheerleading team and president of the Club De La Mode, also known as the Fashion Club.
“I want to be a fashion journalist,” Fornville said.
Fornville also hopes to change the education system, particularly for African American students.
“Being a Black student myself, I really want us to feel more seen in school and to know that school is a place that everyone can go and should feel safe at,” Fornville said.
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Superintendent Dr. Nyah Hamlett has implemented a program dedicated to equity. The Superintendent’s Student Equity and Empathy Ambassador Program allows her to meet regularly with students to gain their perspectives and create a more inclusive learning environment.
Fornville is an ambassador in the program and is passionate about its mission.
“It’s given me a space to speak up for the changes that I believe need to be made,” Fornville said.
Fornville first learned about Disney Dreamers Academy from television commercials growing up. This past summer, she was reminded of the program and decided to apply.
“I jumped on [the application] and critiqued my essays until they were perfect,” Fornville said.
She received her acceptance letter in December.
“I got a large envelope in the mail. Inside, I found a blue folder with my acceptance letter and some paperwork,” Fornville said.
Fornville hopes to see more students in the district participate in the program.
“I encourage everyone to apply to the academy. I can already tell it is a great program even though I haven’t gone yet,” she said.
Fornville’s best friend, sophomore Skyler Mitchell, is also excited about Fornville’s selection. Mitchell, who is in the NAACP with Fornville, described her friend as a determined and inspiring leader.
“Vianna is a very sweet and creative girl who is very driven and continues to work towards her goals no matter how rigorous they are,” Mitchell said.
