The History of the Milton Hershey School Pledge

One hundred years ago, Hershey Industrial School (now Milton Hershey School) looked very different from the institution it is today. Fewer than 200 students were enrolled, and only a handful had completed the academic program.

Construction had just begun on Caaba, a new student home on Homestead Lane, and the cornerstone for the first Fanny B. Hershey Memorial School was laid, complete with a time capsule. That same year, the school’s first superintendent, George Copenhaver, wrote what became the School Pledge.

The pledge was created to reaffirm our values and honor the vision of Milton and Catherine Hershey. It serves as a moment of self-reflection, a reminder of character, and a moral compass for daily life. In essence, the Pledge represents the goals we aspire to live by each year.

First published in the 1926 school viewbook, the Pledge read:

“I will keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. I will try to keep my standards high and help others to do likewise. I will help others to get the comforts of life and happiness which are rightfully theirs. I will improve my language, which is an expression of my character. I will pledge myself to honor and to uphold and to do all I can for the good of my school. These are the best services I can render my school, my state, and my country.”

Though the wording has changed slightly over the decades, its purpose and intent have remained constant.

In 1952, the first revision was made with the addition of the Golden Rule. Administrators felt this addition reflected Milton Hershey’s own philosophy, as he often said he chose to live by the Golden Rule when asked about his faith.

The most recent update came in 2003 under President Johnny O’Brien ’61. As language evolved, he sought to make the Pledge clearer for younger students. Turning to the Deed of Trust for inspiration, he incorporated Milton Hershey’s own words, “to speak the truth at all times” in order to preserve the founder’s original intent.

As the Pledge continues to be recited today, it stands as a symbol of reflection and commitment. Each day, it reminds us why we strive for excellence—to honor our founders and make them, and ourselves, proud.

Explore the History of Our Pledge