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High School Graduation Support

Seeking Self-Sustainability for Graduates

From the day they arrive at Milton Hershey School, students are preparing for graduation day. MHS serves as the bridge between childhood and adulthood. With so many resources provided through our faculty and the Graduate Programs for Success (GPS) Division, students graduate prepared for life and with a defined skill to carry them forward.

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Milton Hershey School's 2018 Alumna of the Year Wendy MacClinchy.

Defining Success

At MHS, we seek to produce graduates who break the cycle of poverty. To do this, they must be able to earn family-sustaining wages in a professional or technical career. Our resilient graduates:

  • Show generosity and give back to others
  • Demonstrate moral and social responsibility
  • Are self-managing and self-sufficient
  • Develop and maintain healthy relationships
  • Show a balance of wellness in mind, body, and spirit

See how social and emotional learning at MHS helps grow these skills.

Learn about the Compass Project
High school students learning to weld

The CTE Program

Milton Hershey School’s award-winning Career and Technical Education (CTE) program prepares students for life after MHS. They graduate both college- and career-ready. Students are introduced to the CTE program’s 12 career pathways in elementary school. As high schoolers, they receive:

  • Tailor-made instruction
  • Hands-on learning
  • The ability to gain industry-recognized certifications
  • Real-life experience through internships, co-ops, and pre-apprenticeships

Internships and Co-Ops

MHS Senior Division students can intern or co-op with partner companies. We have strong relationships with Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, The Hershey Company, The Hotel Hershey, the Hershey Bears, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, and many others. Through this, students get hands-on experience and build strong resumes.

MHS Apprenticeship Program

The MHS Apprenticeship program is the first of its kind in the state. With two distinct parts, it offers pre-apprenticeship learning for current students. If provides postgraduate apprenticeships to young graduates seeking a specific career. The program helps students and alumni develop market-relevant skills for in-demand occupations.

A Milton Hershey School College and Career Counselor works with a student on college plans.

College and Career Readiness through GPS

The MHS Graduate Programs for Success (GPS) Division staff is dedicated to making sure each student has the resources and preparation they need to feel confident in their path. College and career readiness is a hallmark of our school. Counselors work closely with students. They plan for life after MHS and offer guidance and resources. Whether students are looking for jobs or applying to college, they are there to help.

Our counselors continue to support alumni through their college years. Additionally, they help alumni manage MHS scholarship money accrued through strong academic performance and good citizenship during high school.

Explore the Graduate Programs for Success Division

Drag to see a 360-degree view of the Graduate Programs for Success Division. Then, click to engage with interactive content.

Milton Hershey School alumni attend Homecoming activities.

Alumni

MHS graduates—all 11,000-plus of them—share a legacy of success. Alumni serve as mentors, advisors, and role models for young graduates. MHS ensures they stay supported and connected to each other and their school.

See Ways Graduates Are Supported

Milton Hershey School does not discriminate in admissions or other programs and services on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, sex, religious creed or disability. Read important MHS policies on equal opportunity and diversity, equal employment opportunity, and more.