May 19, 2026

Makenzie Scarbrough has been busy since she graduated Magna Cum Laude from East Mississippi Community College in December 2025.

Last year, Scarbrough applied and was accepted into the Disney College Program, a full-time paid internship at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, for college students and recent graduates.

Scarbrough, who began work at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in January of this year, wrapped up her internship on May 9.

“I loved it,” Scarbrough said. “I worked at the Disney Villains show and Beauty and the Beast show. It was so much fun interacting with guests every day.”

A Sturgis native who attended Starkville Christian School, Scarbrough earned an associate degree at EMCC with a heavy concentration in the sciences needed for a pre-dental hygiene major. In August, she will begin her studies at the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s School of Dentistry in Jackson to earn a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene.

“I may pursue a master’s degree right away so I can teach dental hygiene to students one day,” Scarbrough said. “That’s something I really want to do. But I could also see myself working for a few years before I earn my master’s degree.”

In her youth, Scarbrough watched her three younger sisters have their teeth worked on during their dental appointments.

“I thought it was cool. Dentistry was something I was interested in at a young age and my thoughts never changed as I got older,” she said. “I knew I wanted to be in a career where I could help people and dental hygiene looked like it would be a good fit for me.”

Now that she has finished her stint at Disney, Scarbrough said she plans to serve as an administrative director of a camp this summer before beginning her studies at UMMC this fall.

Scarbrough said she is grateful for her experience at Disney, which almost did not come about. Her original plan was to only take the prerequisite classes at EMCC needed to enroll in dental school but later decided to complete her degree.

“I was taking dual enrollment classes in high school and that sped up the process for me to get my associate degree,” Scarbrough said. “Then when I got to EMCC and started really enjoying my classes, I was like, ‘Well, I don’t have to rush this.’”

She graduated from EMCC a semester earlier than expected, applied to Disney, was interviewed and accepted. Scarbrough stayed at an apartment complex at Disney that also housed students in the Disney International Program. Her roommates included a girl from the United Kingdom and another from Mexico.

“That was really cool,” she said. “It was a really nice apartment complex with all the amenities. You are right there on Disney property, so you are in on all the action.”

Scarbrough’s work schedule varied, but six-hour shifts were the norm. She often worked from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., giving her time in the mornings and after work to explore some of the other Disney attractions and parks.

Her main job was seating guests at Hollywood Studio’s live shows and ensuring there were enough seats for ticket holders.

“Then I got to stand in back and watch the shows,” Scarbrough said. “It was a really good time.”

She didn’t make it outside Disney much during her time there.

“I explored outside the Disney bubble a little, but probably not as much as I should have,” Scarbrough said. “There was plenty to keep me occupied at Disney. I loved everything about the Disney parks.”

Scarbrough said she is grateful for her time at EMCC.

“I am thankful for EMCC and how it helped prepare me for my time at Disney, as well as being accepted into the dental hygiene program,” Scarbrough said.