2008 Woodie Awards
Disney grants wishes for real-world experience
Hall, Stephanie
Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: TruLife
At Disney World, a young boy takes a few tentative steps, leaving his walker behind and fulfilling his wish of walking to Mickey Mouse before he returns home to be confined to a wheelchair.
This is the type of priceless moment that graduate student Jessi Berger and many other students who participate in the Disney College Program have witnessed.
The Disney College Program gives students the opportunity to network with Disney executives and participate in personal and career development classes while earning college credit, according to a February press release from Disney.
Berger is working toward her MAE, has participated in the Disney College Program three times and now runs the E-presentation at Truman.
"I saw the info table while I was walking and attended the presentation that night, and the rest was history," Berger said.
Berger said the first time she worked at Disney World, she operated the rides in Fantasy Land, and the other two times, she performed in shows and parades.
"[The jobs] tend to be the frontline work," Berger said. "They have different professional development series that you can do that are geared toward specific majors."
A business major might work in a merchandise role, a theatre major might work in the costume department or be a performer and an exercise science major might work in recreation, Berger said.
"[The Disney College Program] does have courses that are accredited by the American Counsel on Education," Berger said. "There are three new ones including corporate communication, hospitality management and creativity and innovation.
There are also exploration series on hospitality, leadership and human resources."
Berger said her experience with Disney created lasting ties.
"I'm in contact with my friends from Disney every day," Berger said. "We're a crazy bunch, but a lot of people say once you go down there, you never lose contact with the people you made friends with. It's a pretty special bond."
This is the type of priceless moment that graduate student Jessi Berger and many other students who participate in the Disney College Program have witnessed.
The Disney College Program gives students the opportunity to network with Disney executives and participate in personal and career development classes while earning college credit, according to a February press release from Disney.
Berger is working toward her MAE, has participated in the Disney College Program three times and now runs the E-presentation at Truman.
"I saw the info table while I was walking and attended the presentation that night, and the rest was history," Berger said.
Berger said the first time she worked at Disney World, she operated the rides in Fantasy Land, and the other two times, she performed in shows and parades.
"[The jobs] tend to be the frontline work," Berger said. "They have different professional development series that you can do that are geared toward specific majors."
A business major might work in a merchandise role, a theatre major might work in the costume department or be a performer and an exercise science major might work in recreation, Berger said.
"[The Disney College Program] does have courses that are accredited by the American Counsel on Education," Berger said. "There are three new ones including corporate communication, hospitality management and creativity and innovation.
There are also exploration series on hospitality, leadership and human resources."
Berger said her experience with Disney created lasting ties.
"I'm in contact with my friends from Disney every day," Berger said. "We're a crazy bunch, but a lot of people say once you go down there, you never lose contact with the people you made friends with. It's a pretty special bond."
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