The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Young entrepreneur dreams big
Milan student with own clothing line has caught Disney's attention
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: January 24, 2008
When people describe 15-year-old Tevyn Cole as a dreamer, they definitely don't mean the daydreaming, cloud-gazing variety.
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They mean someone with big ideas and lofty goals with the necessary drive to make them reality.
Cole is that kind of dreamer.
At the age of 10, he launched his own clothing line under the label "School Me." The unique line fuses hip-hop fashion with educational messages celebrating black history and the accomplishments of African Americans in the fields of science and engineering.
"I'm trying to make African-American youth look up to scientists and engineers instead of just athletes and entertainers," said the Milan High School freshman. "I would like to have my clothes in stores across America."
His "dream" is drawing attention.
Last week, Cole spent four jam-packed days attending the inaugural session of Disney's Dreamers Academy in Orlando, Fla., and he is now closer than ever to seeing his dream realized.
From among 3,000 applicants, Cole was one of 100 teenagers from across the country selected by nationally syndicated radio host Steve Harvey and a panel of judges to participate in the innovative program, which was designed to immerse students in creative and non-conventional career opportunities.
"This is a special program that we have created as part of the 'The Year of a Million Dreams' celebration at Disney Parks," said Xiomara Wiley, vice president of Walt Disney World Multicultural Marketing. "This is about taking youth with potential and opening doors for them - helping them realize their dreams."
It certainly opened a lot of doors for Cole, who said the four days of workshops, guest speakers, and networking was invaluable, as well as thrilling.
"I was really excited to go because I knew how big an event it would be and the opportunities it would give us," Cole said.
Arriving at Walt Disney World Resorts Jan. 17, Cole and the other Dreamers were greeted like celebrities and began a whirlwind schedule that didn't let up until Sunday, when Bob Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television and the owner of the Charlotte Bobcats NBA team, addressed the teens during a commencement ceremony.
Over the course of four days, Cole had the opportunity to speak with and listen to top Disney executives, "Imagineers," actors, performers and other successful people in a broad range of fields, including sales, medicine, sports marketing, event planning, stunt driving, culinary arts and broadcasting.
Cole listened to Harvey, Imagineer Dexter Tanksley, Food Network chef Jeff Henderson, sports broadcaster Stephon A. Smith, and others tell the story of their own paths to success and how they achieved their own dreams.
"A lot of us young entrepreneurs and people who are trying to follow our dreams need motivation every once in a while," Cole said.
In addition to drawing inspiration from the Academy, Cole came home with a stack of business cards.
"I think of myself as purpose-driven," he said, "and this was a chance to meet a lot of other people like you who are purpose-driven."
"It gave Tevyn some great friendships," said his mother, Stacey Cleggett. "It's real positive peer pressure."
She was impressed, too, with Disney's "first-class" treatment of the affair.
"Everything was like red carpet," she said. "I felt like I was hanging out at the Oscars. It's something Tevyn will remember for a lifetime."
Cole does not intend to let the academy become only a memory, however.
"They provided an opportunity and now it depends on the dreamer to seize the opportunity to make it something bigger," he said.
Cole plans to do just that.
He is currently working with EA Games on getting his clothing line featured in the company's video games. He is also in preliminary talks with Disney's vice president of marketing about possible retail outlets.
"I am really hyped," Cole said. "I can see my dream coming true, maybe in a matter of weeks."
Staff Writer Brian Cox can be reached at 429-7380 or bcox@heritage.com.
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