SHS Junior, Matthew Aldana, was accepted into Disney Dreamers Academy and will be headed to Disney World this spring to participate in a prestigious mentorship program. Disney Dreamers attend workshops and discussions that showcase careers in dozens of fields, networking and interview skills, and more.
Matthew discovered this opportunity while looking for experiences that would not only help him with getting into college, but that would provide experience for STEM and life skills. “I wanted to apply for a few reasons,” says Matthew. “One of them being to show that people on the Autism spectrum are able to do amazing things. A big thing for me is to be able to break past statistics, as Latino representation in STEM jobs is the lowest of any group at 7% and the unemployment rate for college graduates on the Autism spectrum is 85%.” Through the mentorship program, Matthew hopes to build connections with Disney Imagineers and his fellow students that will benefit him throughout his life.
The program receives thousands of applications each year. Matthew was one of 100 students from around the country selected for the Academy and we are thrilled that he will represent our schools and our mission.