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Austin teen selected to be a Disney Dreamer

Only 100 kids were picked to be part of the Disney Dreamers Academy 2019 class, and one teen from Austin made the cut.

AUSTIN, Texas — Walt Disney World Resort announced the 100 teenagers who will be part of the 2019 Disney Dreamers Academy.

Ian McKenna, a student at Liberal Arts and Science Academy in Austin, said he was shocked he made the cut.

"I was even more in disbelief since I have dysgraphia, and I have trouble kind of putting my thoughts on paper and actually writing stuff," said McKenna. "So finding out that I won an essay contest was really hard to believe."

McKenna has a garden in his backyard. He donates all the produce he grows to people in need. 

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"It's a really good feeling to know what I'm doing is really helping people," said McKenna.

Disney Dreamers, the students that were accepted, will get an all-expenses-paid trip to Walt Disney World in March. 

“These students are in for a life-changing experience,” said Tracey D. Powell, Walt Disney World Resort vice president and Disney Dreamers Academy executive champion. “Our goal is to help them see the unlimited possibilities and to inspire them to achieve their full purpose -- to become the heroes of their own stories.”

During the four-day trip, the students will go throughout the Disney theme parks and go behind the scenes. They'll also participate in career-oriented workshops, ranging from animation to zoology.

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