MHS Alumni Step Into the Heart of a Student Home During Homecoming

On Saturday, Oct. 26, the Elementary Division students and houseparents of student home Evergreen warmly welcomed Milton Hershey School alumni to their student home. They were invited to step back in time and reminisce in the spaces where today’s students create memories—just as they once did. Each alumnus passed through a brown and gold balloon arch as they entered the student home, a celebratory gesture to honor their return and symbolize the beautiful bridging of past and present that this special event was designed to host.

This moment, part of many Homecoming Weekend festivities, held special meaning for houseparents Yvonne (Smith) Serrano ’04 and Nick Serrano ’04, who are also proud MHS alumni. As fellow Spartans, they felt a connection with every alumnus who stepped into their student home. That sense of shared history was matched by the enthusiasm of their students, who led tours through their student home—eager to showcase the effort they put into maintaining the spaces they enjoy.

Lisa (Prough) Bertera ’05 brought her young daughter and husband to this event. Experiencing the rooms—this time through the eyes of her family—was meaningful for her. She reconnected with the formative moments that helped shape who she is and shared about the houseparents who left a lasting impression on her.

“This is very nostalgic,” Bertera said. “This is home. There are several houseparents who, when I needed something—whether it was tangible or emotional, related to school or life—I could go to them with the certainty that they would do everything in their power to help me.”

Carlo Vega ’90 shared that returning to campus with his wife was incredibly special. MHS is such a unique and expansive place that he often found it challenging to capture in words, so walking through the campus that impacted him gave his wife a significant glimpse into his experience.

“Being in this student home is drawing me back to when I was here,” Vega said. “The houseparents I had were exactly what I needed and made my time at MHS better. They showed me what I should strive for as a parent for my own kids.”

Thommy Sanders ’55 was one of 25 students in his student home. As he listened to current students describe what each room means to them, he found himself drawing thoughtful comparisons and contrasts to his own experiences.

“The students now have such a different routine from what I was used to,” Sanders said. “We didn’t have weekends off like this because the cows had to be milked every day. It was a different world then.”

While in the living room of student home Evergreen, Shannan (Pugh) Santiago ’05 was visibly moved by the moment. Returning to campus, reconnecting with former classmates, and stepping into a student home—similar to one she was once familiar with, stirred a wave of emotion and reminded her of the profound impact MHS had on her life.

“This has been an amazing walk down memory lane that I get to experience with my husband for the first time,” Santiago said.

After finishing their tours, alumni gathered in the dining area, sitting around the very tables where students share daily meals. Within the walls of student home Evergreen this day, it was clear that past and present met, woven together by shared stories and a profound legacy. It was a powerful reminder that the true heart of every student home is not a physical room or space, but rather the Spartans and their houseparents.

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