Former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Visits Milton Hershey School

On Friday, Feb. 7, the Milton Hershey School community received a special visit from Arne Duncan, former U.S. Secretary of Education under the Obama administration and current managing partner of Chicago CRED. During his visit, he spoke to staff, the Class of 2025, and students pursuing careers in the Education and Human Services Career and Technical Education pathway.

Duncan was inspired by the unique, top-notch education that MHS provides and was invited to visit campus to learn more about our students’ experiences and offer his own knowledge.

Duncan shared how his passion for education started during his childhood in Chicago, Illinois. His parents were both educators, and he grew up attending the after-school program his mother ran in the south side of the city. He spoke about the disparity he witnessed, watching as his friends in different neighborhoods received fewer opportunities.

“Talent is evenly distributed in our country, opportunity is not,” said Duncan.

At MHS, our students in pre-K through 12th grade live and learn on campus in Hershey, Pennsylvania. They are given every opportunity to unlock their full potential. MHS provides for students’ daily needs—from food and housing to sports equipment and health care—all in a safe, supportive environment where they can discover their passions. Through hands-on learning opportunities and access to state-of-the-art facilities, students can explore their individual interests to the fullest.

Much of Duncan’s work has centered around making an impact in his hometown. His experience of losing friends to gun violence left a lasting desire to combat this issue. His organization, Chicago CRED, founded in 2016, works to reduce gun violence through street outreach, life coaching and counseling, violence prevention, and workforce development.

As he shared with the senior class and the Education and Human Services students, Duncan’s life and professional experiences have been characterized by the importance of creating genuine connections and listening to those around you—regardless of one’s position on an issue.

“I just believe, in my bones, that relationships change lives,” said Duncan.

Duncan has seen firsthand the impact that relationships have on lives, and this continues to be in the forefront of everything he does. This resonates deeply with the MHS community. Whether it’s a houseparent, teacher, coach, or a staff member participating in our mentoring programs, MHS believes every child deserves an adult they can turn to for guidance and support.

Corey Strayhorn, an MHS junior, appreciated Duncan’s message about accepting people as they are. As a future educator, Corey took this to heart and found it to be beneficial advice.

“If someone has a disability, you should treat them the same as someone who doesn’t have a disability,” Corey said. “Because everyone has struggles and things they do well with.”

Hailey Peregrin, an MHS senior and Education and Human Services program student, said hearing from Duncan was insightful for her as she prepares to pursue a career in education.

“He talked about teamwork and meeting people where they are,” Haley said. “You hear about accepting students for who they are but hearing him talk about his real life experiences was really impactful.”

Duncan emphasized the important work of MHS and that the mission of our founders, Milton and Catherine Hershey, inspires him as he continues to learn from others.