Despite Challenges, MHS Staffer Focuses on Resilience, Purpose, and Positive Spirit

In a quiet office tucked in the Milton Hershey School Central Operations Facility, CAD and GIS Manager Charles Nguyen carries a presence that is humble and profound. His story is not one of fame or fortune, but of grit, grace, and a relentless commitment to giving back. For 20 years, Charles has served the MHS  community with a quiet strength, shaped by personal sacrifice, cultural complexity, and a deep-rooted belief in the power of perseverance. 

Nguyen describes himself as a planner—someone who thrives on structure and preparation. But life, as he puts it, “throws curveballs.” His journey has been marked by unexpected turns: the death of his father, the responsibility of caring for his mother and brother, and most recently, a battle with cancer. Yet through it all, Charles maintains the MHS Sacred Value of Positive Spirit, never losing sight of the bigger picture. 

“I tell my kids, ‘You are a Nguyen’er winner. Try your best to win. Life throws losses, but you get back up and continue,’” he said. “Faith, family, resilience, and integrity guide me forward.”  

Nguyen’s life began in Vietnam in 1974, just before the fall of Saigon. After the war, his family escaped their homeland and headed to America. The early days in their new home were marked by hardships.  

“My mom, dad, brother, and grandmother worked hard just to survive,” he said. 

When Nguyen’s father passed away in 1998, he stepped into a role few young adults are prepared for. He dropped out of college to support his family, working multiple jobs while attending night school. His dreams of becoming an architect were sidelined, not by lack of ambition, but by the pressing needs of those he loved. 

“I wasn’t focused on school,” he admits. “I was helping the family survive.” 

Nguyen’s situation instilled in him the importance of being responsible, mature, and practicing another MHS Sacred Value—Mutual Respect. He never imagined having a family of his own or a strong career, but that all changed in 2005 when he began working at Milton Hershey School.  

Through his job at MHS, Nguyen has mentored interns, many of whom he still considers family. He has attended their weddings, celebrated birthdays, and watched them grow into professionals. His job, he says, is more than a paycheck—it’s a platform to give back. 

Outside of MHS, Nguyen is a proud husband, father, son and brother. He refers to his wife as his source of courage.  

“Behind every success, she stands as the foundation,” he said. “My wife has stood by me in every moment, big and small.”  

Her love and ability to keep him grounded and determined unknowingly prepared Nguyen for the biggest challenge of his life—devastating news of lung cancer in December 2024. 

At first, he believed his dreams and goals had been shattered. Fatigue, brain fog, imbalance, muscle weakness, and more were part of his new normal, but his family remained his “why” with lessons from his late father pushing him forward. 

“My dad was human, he was flawed, but he was never willing to give up,” Nguyen said. “His legacy of resilience and determination was my inspiration.” 

He worries less about himself and more about his wife, his children, his mother and brother—each one a reason to keep going, to keep planning, to keep giving. 

“There’s nothing guaranteed,” he says. “One minute you’re great, the next you’re down. But you keep going.” 

For Charles, success is found in the quiet moments—walking at his college graduation with his children watching, receiving an unexpected award, or simply reaching out to someone who needs encouragement. After a months-long medical leave, he returned to MHS before school started eager to embrace the school year theme, Our Pledge, by keeping his standards high and encouraging others to do likewise.   

“When you look up, you might not be comparable,” he says, quoting his parents. “But when you look down, you realize just how far you’ve come.” 

Nguyen is pronounced “N’win/Ng’win,” and that’s exactly what he plans to do. He owns his name as a symbol of resilience and survival. He refuses to let cancer define his spirit and hopes to continue creating memories with those he loves.  

“Once you’ve accepted death, everything else seems easier.  You realize you have nothing left to fear.  What remains is the drive to prove that you’re a Nguyen’er.”

And through it all, he remains profoundly thankful and deeply grateful for the unwavering love and support of his family, friends, his dedicated oncologist and medical team, and his MHS family, whose encouragement has been truly remarkable.

 “Life isn’t perfect, and neither am I,” he said. “The MHS Sacred Values, family, resilience, and gratitude, can guide us through hard times. My pledge is to live fully, love deeply, and never give up.”