Gratitude: The Lesson That Lasts a Lifetime
November has always held special meaning at Milton Hershey School (MHS)—a moment to celebrate our founders, renew our traditions, and unify around the matchless spirit of thanksgiving. But this year,...
Pete Gurt ’85President of Milton Hershey School
Pete Gurt ’85 is the president of Milton Hershey School and Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning. Under his leadership, MHS has reached record enrollment of nearly 2,300 students and introduced programs to support graduate success, while CHS expanded high-quality early childhood education in Pennsylvania. Gurt has served in various leadership roles at MHS for decades and sits on multiple professional boards, including the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools, S&T Bank, and Hershey Trust Company. He holds an honorary doctorate from Elizabethtown College, a master’s in education from Penn State Harrisburg, and a bachelor’s in business administration from Temple University. His contributions have earned him several awards, including the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Coalition of Residential Excellence.
12,000 Lives Changed: Milton Hershey School Celebrates a Sweet Milestone
This year, Milton Hershey School is going to reach a landmark moment more than a century in the making: the celebration of our 12,000th graduate. It’s a number that carries...
Milton Hershey School’s Class of 2024 Breaks Through to Graduation
This school year, the Milton Hershey School community centered our focus around shattering real and perceived barriers to become the very best versions of ourselves. Not only have our students...
Celebrating Joy and Community Spirit During the Holidays at Milton Hershey School
Though I like to say that every day is a Breakthrough day in Hershey, Pa., I have three favorite seasons at Milton Hershey School: Kicking off a new school year...
Celebrating Milton S. Hershey: The Unique Philanthropist
In November 1923, readers opened the Harrisburg Evening News and The New York Times to learn about a $60 million gift to children in need. There had been no press...
Early Childhood Education is the Key to Life-Long Success
Nelson Mandela once said that “education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” In leading this change, Milton Hershey School and Catherine Hershey Schools for...
Milton Hershey School Celebrates Mr. Hershey’s 166th Birthday
At Milton Hershey School, birthdays are special and have always been reasons to celebrate. In fact, since the early days of the school, all students have received birthday cakes and...
Milton Hershey School Begins a Breakthrough Year
For nearly a decade, our Opening of School Assembly has featured themes that both inspire and challenge the Milton Hershey School community. In 2014, we started by recommitting to our...
Graduation Advice from Milton Hershey School Elementary Division Students
As Milton Hershey School’s graduation quickly approaches, one of the most important things we as educators can do is share our advice with our young graduates. But this year, I...
Milton Hershey School Founder’s Day is a Celebration for the Whole Community
This month, 113 years ago, Milton S. Hershey, the world-famous chocolatier and philanthropist, and his wife Catherine signed the Milton Hershey School Deed of Trust. This act allowed thousands of...