Middle School Student Maya Tharoo Wins Prestigious Walt Disney World Award

Windermere Preparatory School (WPS) could not be more proud of Eighth Grade student, Maya Tharoo.

Each year, Walt Disney World sponsors a program called "Dreamers and Doers" in which Eighth Grade students self-nominate, or are nominated by an educator or peer for something they are doing successfully at school, at home, or in their community that inspires others and makes the world a better place.

WPS chose Maya as our one outstanding nominee to represent WPS as our Dreamer and Doer. Maya then competed with other Orange County public and private school nominees for Disney’s prestigious, long-standing Shining Star Award. Students’ ideas must be inspiring, but more importantly, their words must become reality--they must act on their ideas. 

Gifted with a helper’s heart and a personality that draws you close to her, our Dreamer and Doer is forever seeking opportunities to love others, especially those families, organizations, and professionals who care for preemies. A preemie herself with an incredible story that embodies hope, strength, and gratitude, Maya has made it her life’s mission to share her story with families of other preemies. Already, she’s loved over 500 parents of preemies at Winnie Palmer Hospital with her testimony. In 2013, she founded her own non-profit, Miracle Makers Foundation, Inc. Her vision is to lower the mortality rate of high-risk babies globally. She plans to provide scholarships to doctors pursuing neonatology specialities, to build neonatology units globally, and to provide education to mothers in high-risk pregnancies. 

Disney could not help but notice our Dreamer and Doer’s sparkle too. They have chosen Maya as the one Middle School student in all of Orange County to be honored as their Shining Star. 

We could not be more honored to congratulate Maya and her family on this tremendous achievement!