Milton Hershey School Students Gain Skills and Certificates During Pre-Apprenticeship Program

Ten Milton Hershey School students recently completed a state-recognized pre-apprenticeship program. Students completed an accelerated two-week program and earned a State Certified Pre-Apprenticeship Credential issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor.

The pre-apprenticeship program, known as the manufacturing program, partners MHS with the Manufacturers Association of South Central Pennsylvania (MASCP) and The Hershey Company, and provides students with a realistic understanding of what manufacturing is and what career options are available to them in the field after graduation.

In a hybrid environment of classroom and on-site learning, students studied manufacturing standards, precision management, lean manufacturing, blueprint reading, and Computer-Aided Design (CAD)  software for designing a 3D system. They also earned CPR and Occupational Safety and Health Administration 10 certifications, as well as a Manufacturing Applied Technologies Course Completion Certificate.

Jen Benson, MHS Career Support Specialist and the program coordinator, says the program was challenging for the students as they adapted to the fast-paced setting of the classes, but that adversity led them to rise up and discover skills they didn’t know they had, such as mentorship and leadership.

Senior Shiloh DeLouis experienced this firsthand and was inspired to be a leader and mentor to his classmates.

 “I learned patience and problem-solving by helping other groups finish their projects, and by working through mistakes together instead of rushing ahead,” said DeLouis.

DeLouis even went on to later speak at their end-of-program event, something he’d never done before.

“I was super nervous at first, but then I  got up there, and when I did, I felt great,” he said.

For many students, this pre-apprenticeship fostered both their career and soft skills. They left with something not only added to their resume and real-world experiences but also skills they will take with them throughout their lives.

After two short weeks of learning and development, the students had the opportunity to manufacture a creation of their own as a memento of their experience with the help of mentors from The Hershey Company and MASCP.

The Hershey Company and MASCP continue to expand their programming in partnership with the MHS Career and Technical Education program to offer students real-world experiences and opportunities.