Even as a young child, East Peoria native Jonathan Friday had an interest in everything Walt Disney.
The cartoons, theme parks and most of all, the creativity, which embodies Disney, quickly became a passion of his.
“I remember picking up a coffee table book when I was little and was just fascinated by the art and how engineers came up with everything that is in the park,” 22-year-old Friday said.
After years of preparation and persistence, his childhood dream is about to come true.
As a recent media communication graduate from Taylor University in Upland, Ind., he was selected along with a fellow Taylor student as one of six teams of finalists for the Walt Disney Imagineering’s 19th ImagiNations design competition.
“Even when I was in junior high, I wanted to be involved with Imagineers,” he said. “This is the third year I entered and the first year I finalized.”
From June 8 to 16, Friday will be one of 20 students visiting Walt Disney Imagineering in Glendale, Calif.
While there, the students will have the opportunity to complete their projects, make professional presentations to a judging panel, interview for internships and participate in a competition, according to a press release.
ImagiNations is a program designed and sponsored by Walt Disney Imagineering — the creative arm of all Disney parks and resorts worldwide — to encourage students and professionals from diverse backgrounds to consider careers in creative and technical fields including digital arts, engineering and next-generation interactivity.
“It combined a lot of my interests,” he said. “It will be a week of going behind the scenes of places I would otherwise never have access.”
Friday’s team will present a concept of a new ride that is a Tarzan-themed vehicle, Friday said.
“Tarzan was the perfect character,” he said. “It is something unique. I’ve had doodles and sketches in folders for a few years now.”
According to the release, the Tarzan ride will “immerse guests in a 360 degree experience. Guests’ seats rise above and fall below the ride track, nearly touching a starry sky one moment and gliding over a pool’s surface the next — all without the stomach-churning drops or steep pitches found in other attractions…”
While none of the rides will actually be designed, the competition gives participants a way to showcase their talents and gain practical knowledge in design, with the opportunity to earn internships.
“It’s not a guarantee of anything, but it’s a great first step,” Friday said, adding he ultimately would like to be involved with the development of different Disney attractions. “It’s been really exciting just to have this validation. It’s kind of a dream come true.”
Friday, a graduate of Peoria Christian High School, is the son of Mark and Jenny Friday of East Peoria.
