A School and Home: Reflecting on My Time at Milton Hershey School
By Lorraine (Hissick) Romberger ’83, MHS Alumni Relations Director
I love Milton Hershey School— a place that has been with me every step of my journey. As I reflect on my time as a student and then staff member, I want to share how much MHS has given me and how grateful I am to have come back to work here.
No matter how far we go or how much time has passed, stepping back onto campus always feels like coming home. Being part of the first group of girls at MHS created some of my most cherished memories and friendships. One of those friendships is with my former roommate and best friend, Lidia Oquendo ’82—someone who has been with me through the laughter, the growth, and everything in between.
Whether you visit often or haven’t been back in years, the MHS community will always welcome you with open arms. People here go out of their way to make you feel seen, valued, and cared for. It’s one of the things that makes MHS so unique.
As the director of Alumni Relations, I have had the incredible opportunity to work with alumni and students in this place we call home. It’s a true joy, and I hope our alumni community continues building these connections for generations to come.
At MHS, traditions live on, creating a sense of continuity and belonging. From Homecoming to Founders Day, dinners in the student homes, and more, these moments are deeply meaningful, bringing together generations of MHS alumni and students. These traditions resonate on a personal level—they’re the moments that have shaped us, and it’s an honor to pass them on to future generations, adding to the rich heritage of MHS.
Each of us received powerful life lessons from MHS—my lessons were instilled by my houseparents, the Mladenoffs, Parks, Wiselkos, and Plyntons, along with advisors, coaches, and my art teacher and mentor, Clyde Stacks. They all guided me. Those of us who return to work here do so with a desire to pass on these lessons, hoping to be the kind of positive influence on students that we experienced ourselves.
It’s often only after graduation that we realize just how much MHS shaped us. I know that MHS has been a guiding force in every part of my life. This is why I felt called to return—to give back to the school that has given me so much.
As alumni, we understand these students deeply. We know their experiences because they were ours, too. Whether through shared stories of MHS, the arts, or athletics, we connect on a personal level and show students that we’re here to help them succeed and feel supported every step of the way. We want them to know they’re part of something bigger than themselves—a family, a tradition, a legacy.
Lorraine worked at Milton Hershey School for six years, serving as Alumni Relations director from 2023 until her retirement in 2024. Before that, she was a manager and coordinator for Alumni Relations. She has been president of the Dearden Foundation since 2018 and a former president of the Milton Hershey School Alumni Association and the Family Gratitude Foundation in Honor of Gertrude Gurt. In 2024, she was a proud recipient of the Chairman’s Medallion, an award presented by the MHS Board of Managers to a person who demonstrates outstanding achievement with high levels of integrity and moral character in their service to our school and its mission.
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