MHS Students Earn Certifications, Learn Real-World Skills Through Pre-Apprenticeship Program

Milton Hershey School student Ava Lines, a member of the Class of 2027, believes that to succeed in life, you must be willing to learn new things. 

Lines and 14 of her peers took that advice to heart by successfully participating in the annual Pre-Apprenticeship Program that MHS conducts in collaboration with the Manufacturers’ Association of South Central Pennsylvania (MASCP) and The Hershey Company. The opportunity exposed students to the different skill sets necessary to thrive in the field of manufacturing. 

Over two weeks, the students earned CPR and Occupational Safety and Health Administration 10 certifications, a Manufacturing Applied Technologies Course Completion Certificate issued by the Manufacturers’ Association, and a State Certified Pre-Apprenticeship Credential issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor.  

Shatik Medina, a member of the Class of 2026, was especially fascinated by the Lean ideology, a philosophy used in manufacturing focused on delivering customer value by minimizing waste in processes.  

“It revealed to me so much potential for growth and improvement and the value of it,” Medina said. “Since I am going into project management for construction, this will be a helpful skill to continue to develop. Project management is dealing with people, their skills, and efficiency within scope.” 

The program taught that every process and procedure requires a dedicated and skilled professional for successful implementation. During a tour of the new Reese Chocolate Processing Facility in Hershey, the students learned first-hand what skills are required to be successful in the manufacturing field. Among the staff who took time to help the students grow was MHS alumnus Christian Ferguson ’08, a labor and training specialist. 

Ferguson credited his success to hard work, perseverance, dedicated teammates, and a willingness to adapt to new processes and technologies. Ferguson and his colleagues shared the satisfaction they receive from creating products consumers enjoy.  

MASCP has been teaching this course since 2018. Besides providing pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship opportunities for students, MASCP connects students and adults with a pipeline of career options. 

The Hershey Company has worked with the MASCP for many years and continues to offer support and experiences for students and adults interested in manufacturing careers. The Hershey Company also partners with the MHS Career and Technical Education (CTE) program to offer real-world opportunities.