Many people have heard of the Milton Hershey School, but many may not be aware of its mission and the children who have been served, many of whom come from Schuylkill County.
There are currently 23 students enrolled from the county, part of more than 1,900 students living and learning at the school. School representatives visited the Schuylkill Mall on Nov. 21 for a "Family Event" that provided an opportunity for local residents, especially children, to learn more about the school, listen to a presentation and ask questions of staff, students, parents and alumni.
The school's media relations manager, Keri Straub, said the family events bring the school to a location where people can learn more about what the school is all about.
"Our family events are designed to recruit students and talk to their parents or whoever their guardian is," Straub said on Friday by telephone. "Our admission counselors run those events and people can ask them about the school and opportunities for their child."
Straub said chocolate industrialist Milton S. Hershey and his wife, Catherine, founded a home and school in Hershey in 1909. MHS serves children in financial and social need by providing them education, housing, food, medical and psychological health care, recreation opportunities and clothing with no financial obligation to the family.
Originally, the school was founded to provide care for white orphan boys, and its first class consisted of just 10 students. Today, more than 1,900 boys and girls of diverse backgrounds are served by the school through its mission of nurturing and educating children in social and financial need to lead fulfilling and productive lives.
"If we helped a hundred children, it would have been all worthwhile," Milton Hershey said. After more than 100 years in existence, the school has more than 9,000 alumni nationwide.
"We hold the family events all over Pennsylvania and the northeast," Straub said. "The school is for families of low income. Everything is cost free and there's no financial burden on the family."
Straub said the children can live on campus year round.
"They can have six weeks off in the summer, and they can either stay here and sign up for activities in a year-round experience program, or they can work in internships, or work in jobs that are available on campus," Straub said. "They also get to go home on holiday breaks."
The school is funded through the Milton Hershey School Trust, created in 1909, to provide for the health, education and welfare of the children at the school, according to Straub. Milton Hershey appointed the Hershey Trust Company as its trustee to provide investment management and administration for the school trust. Over his lifetime, Hershey transferred a bulk of his personal wealth into the trust. Because of the Hershey Trust Company's continued investment management of Milton Hershey's original funding, the school trust's assets have grown to a value exceeding $7 billion today. The school always has been and continues to be funded through that trust fund.
Two Pottsville residents attending the school are Tyler and Tori Smith. Tyler, 17, has been at the school for 3 1/2 years and will graduate on June 15. Tori, 14, has attended the school for two years and is in her third school year. Both are sponsored by their aunt, who is also their guardian.
"Their aunt's friend told them about the school, and they got a tour and interviewed," Staub said. "There is a whole enrollment process that students go through before they're accepted."
Tyler Smith wasn't sure what it would be like to live at the school and attend classes, but it has worked out well for her.
"When I came here, I really didn't know what to expect," Tyler said. "I was scared because I was leaving home, but ever since I've been here, I really appreciate it because of all the opportunities that they've given me and wouldn't have been able to do otherwise. Now, I'll be able to go to college because of the school."
As for the opportunities, Tyler said, "I got to work a couple of summers at the horse barn. I've been getting voice lessons and participating in different choirs."
Tyler plans to attend college and major in health and physical education. Straub said there is scholarship funding available for each student.
"We have a continuing education scholarship for all of our students," Straub said. "In the ninth grade, they start accumulating money toward the scholarship, and they can earn up to $80,000 toward their undergraduate degree. A lot of our students don't have to pay to go to college. They earn that through good grades, behavior and character."
Tori Smith is considering her post-secondary education, and the major she is considering comes from an inspirational teacher.
"I want to become an English teacher," said Tori, who wants to teach at the high school level. "My inspiration was my seventh grade English teacher."
Tori enjoys reading, especially mysteries and sports.
"It's definitely worth it to come here because of all the opportunities," Tyler said. "I would definitely recommend it for other families. It is hard to be away from your family, but you get also get a second family here at school. There are so many great relationships that will last after you graduate."
"My sister said most of the things I was going to say, but I will say it is definitely worth it too," Tori said.
"Having my sister here definitely brought us closer together and depend on each other," Tyler said.
Parents and sponsors are welcome to become a part of this extended family by staying in touch with their children and their children's houseparents through regular phone calls, emails and visits to campus. In addition to vacation breaks, students may visit family members overnight for up to five weekends per year. MHS also hosts several special family events throughout the year.
The MHS Home Life Program aims to create a family-like atmosphere for students. In each of the 155 specially designed homes, 8-13 students of the same division (elementary, middle or senior) live under the guidance of houseparents - married couples with childcare experience employed full-time by the school. Houseparents serve as mentors to each of the students in the home, providing support and guidance as the students develop, mature and gain the skills that will make them successful graduates.
Scott Gregory is the admissions counselor for Schuylkill County and attended the Nov. 21 family event at the mall.
"The event was the third one we did at the Schuylkill Mall," Gregory said. "We do have a large number of kids who come from the county, and we do have some students who will be graduating this year."
In getting the message out to the public about the school, the opportunities available are a major part of that message, Gregory said.
"We focus a lot on the opportunities that we're able to provide," Gregory said. "In order to come to Milton Hershey School, there is some minimum criteria that all of our kids need to meet. The hope is that we're to going to help level the playing field for kids from lower income families and give them the opportunities that they probably wouldn't have in a traditional public school. Maybe they want to play instruments, but those things cost money. They may want to get involved in after-school activities, but there is pay-to-play. Here at Milton Hershey School, they get to do all those things and there's no cost."
Gregory said the ability to earn money for college is something potential students look at.
"For high school kids, a big draw is the fact that they can earn a scholarship that will allow them to go to college," Gregory said. "It's earned over the time they're here in the high school program. Tyler will have the opportunity when she graduates in June to have earned a little over $80,000 that will enable her to go where she wants to go. There are some strings attached on where she's allowed to apply. About 90 percent of our kids go on to college."
To be eligible for enrollment, a child must come from a family of low income. When making selection decisions, MHS also considers the quality of care a child receives in his or her home. If the care is inadequate, the child is considered to be in "social need." Social need may result from a variety of situations faced by the child's primary caregiver, including physical, mental and emotional health problems; chemical addiction; or incarceration. The school stresses low income, limited resources, social need and age-appropriate behavior when considering applicants.
"We are growing. We have a little over 1,900 kids here, and we have some planned growth for the next several years to get us to about 2,000 to 2,100 students," Gregory said. "In January we are slated to have 1,915 kids and I know that will be the highest we have ever had. Each subsequent month we just continue to grow."
To learn more about the school, go to www.mhs-pa.org.