McKenzie Maasdorp – LRHS News

(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) – LRHS senior Makenzie Legg started off at the school as a Mini-Mustang in the campus’ pre-school program and now she is a real Mustang, ready to graduate.

Legg came to LRHS when she was 4 years old. She returned for her freshman year and is still here as a senior.

“My family had no idea I was going to attend Lakewood for high school, it all just worked out that way. But I’m glad it happened, because now I get to work with the Mini-Mustangs myself,” said Legg.

Legg is the first student ever to attend Mini-Mustangs and then return for high school.  Her twin sisters also went to Mini Mustangs and are now at Lakewood as freshman.

“I started taking the Early Childhood Education (ECE) class my freshman year with Mrs. [Elaine] Bowling [LRHS ECE adviser] and she remembered my family from Mini-Mustangs, so she and I have a really good relationship, she’s always been here for me,” said Legg.

Legg is still taking ECE as a senior and loves the program. There are about 10-15 children in the 3-year-old Mini-Mustangs.

Legg said, “The kids are so much fun to play with, they really are the highlight of my day.”

Since Legg has the class on even days she doesn’t get to interact with the kids as much as she wants to, but the schedule is still perfect for her.

“The best feeling is when you walk in the class and the kids run up to you, scream your name, and hug you,” she smiled.

Bowling loves having Legg in the program, “Having Makenzie is really great because she’s familiar with everything that goes on, even though a lot of thing have changed since she first started as a Mini Mustang, it became second nature to her, her working with the kids is great. It’s cool to see the whole circle of it completed.”