Milton Hershey School Lifer Shares How Community Defined Her Experience

By Eden Newman, MHS Senior

McKenzie Moody will graduate in June as a Milton Hershey School lifer, a distinction earned by students who complete at least 12 years of enrollment before graduating. More than 600 alumni have begun their MHS journeys in pre-K, kindergarten, or first grade.

As we prepare to celebrate them at the school’s 92nd Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, June 14, the lifers in the Class of 2026 shared what their time at MHS has meant to them.

What is your earliest memory at MHS?

One of my earliest and favorite memories at MHS was in elementary school when my student home—student home Harris—got to do a Frozen-themed talent show. My houseparents were into the arts, so I remember my housemates and I having a good time laughing and dancing to music, enjoying the tutus they’d made for us. It was the first time I’d been on the stage in the Founders Hall auditorium. Everything was so big, and I was so small. To do it with a group of people who I was close with was super cool.

When you first enrolled, what did you want to be when you grew up, and now that you are graduating, how has that changed?

When I grew up all I knew was that I wanted to be Beyoncé. When I hit third and fourth grade, I began to truly think about what I wanted to do in life. I had a lot of really good teachers around me who helped me in hard times. It made me want to be a teacher.

Now, I plan to attend West Chester University to earn a degree in biochemistry and become a forensic pathologist. Growing up, my mom watched many shows like NCIS and law documentaries, plus she was a nurse. Because of those two things, I was always around the blend of science and law. It’s become fascinating to me and something I’m happy I can share with my mom.

What is a moment at MHS that shaped your story?

In the fifth grade, I lost my grandma, and overall, I was going through a hard time. I had a teacher named Mr. Castle, and he truly showed the community there is with being a Milt. Having a teacher who believed in me and cared about me enough to keep me going inside and outside the classroom was such a beneficial thing, and it sparked my love for science. He gave me a reason besides grief to strive for new heights and show up every day. I knew I wanted to do the same thing.

What is your favorite memory?

My favorite memory has to be the clubs and activities I got to be part of. For me, one of the best things MHS gave me was a sense of belonging and a family that was like a home away from home. My first experience truly bonding with the people around me was in third grade. When I joined the soccer team, it was the first time things like community and life made sense, being with those girls in the house. Parents gave me security, comfort, and bonds that I have learned to just cherish forever.

What life lessons have you learned from Elementary, Middle, and Senior division?

As I reflect on my experience, I think of this quote, “You can be the master of your fate. You can be the captain of your soul, but you have to realize that life is coming from you and not at you.” There came a point in my time at MHS when I had to realize that growth was available all around me. It radiated from the people who were with me, the educators who taught me, and the houseparents who guided me. I just had to realize that I could take advantage of it. Once I did, I began to look at growth as an achievable goal just waiting to be reached.