Milton Hershey School Celebrates Remarkable Achievements by the Class of 2026

Milton Hershey School is proud to celebrate a group of outstanding seniors whose achievements have earned recognition at the local, state, and national levels. From academic honors to artistic excellence and athletic success, these students exemplify the strength and diversity of talent within the MHS community.

PennLive’s Best & Brightest

Shatik Medina has been named one of PennLive’s Best & Brightest for Milton Hershey School. The Best & Brightest Class of 2026 features 20 exceptional seniors representing 18 high schools across seven counties in central Pennsylvania. The prestigious program has recognized top students since 1993.

Medina earned this recognition through an impressive record of leadership, achievement, and service. He was recently honored with the Career Accomplishment Award at the MHS Alumni-Senior Brunch. He is a member of the Math Honor Society, placed first in the FBLA Future Business Leader regional competition, and holds multiple certifications. Medina is actively involved in student leadership and career programs. He plans to attend Drexel University in the fall to study construction management.

National Center for Women & Information Technology Aspirations in Computing Award

Lydia Frimpong received the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Award, which honors high school students for their achievement and potential in computer science and engineering.

Frimpong developed the Smart Spender App, a financial literacy tool designed to help users make informed decisions about saving, education, and personal goals. By entering details such as age, work status, and ambitions, users receive tailored guidance on managing finances. The app, originally created for an FBLA business competition, demonstrates Lydia’s proficiency in Java programming and her commitment to practical problem-solving.

Technology Student Association Coding Competition

Christian Keith and Dahmir Lucas-Cobb earned third place in the state in the Coding category at the Technology Student Association competition. Their success qualified them to compete at the National TSA Conference, held June 22–26 in Washington, D.C.

The TSA Coding competition requires participants to demonstrate both technical knowledge and real-time problem-solving skills. After completing a written exam covering coding concepts, semifinalists must design and develop a functional software program within a limited timeframe to address a given challenge. Keith and Lucas-Cobb’s performance showcases their technical expertise, teamwork, and innovation.

State Track and Field Championships

Lucille Heuremann delivered an exceptional senior track and field season, earning third place in the state in pole vaulting at the PIAA Track and Field Championships.

She also received recognition from PennLive as the Girls Field Athlete of the Year. During the spring sports season, she won the District 3 Class 3A pole vault title, improving on her own personal record. Heuermann carried that momentum to the state level, earning a bronze medal in pole vault at the PIAA Championships and finishing in the top 15 in javelin.

A previous national champion at the AAU Junior Olympics, Heuermann has firmly established herself as one of Pennsylvania’s premier pole vaulters.

Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological, and Scientific Olympics Competition

Several MHS seniors earned top honors in the ACT-SO competition, a year-round program that promotes high academic and cultural achievement among African American high school students. Participants compete at local and national levels for scholarships, prizes, and recognition.

Senior award recipients include:

• Maame Asante – Gold Medal in Modern Dance and Silver Medal in Spoken Word/Poetry Performance
• Antoinette Mason – Gold Medal in Contemporary Dance
• Jeremiah Victor – Gold Medal in Painting
• Mikyala Eslinger – Silver Medal in Modern Dance

In addition to these seniors, several other MHS students were also recognized for their achievements in the ACT-SO competition:

• Malik Burton – Bronze Medal in Spoken Word/Poetry Performance and Silver Medal in Poetry (Written)
• Marvin Dadzie – Bronze Medal in Drawing
• Rashard Harris – Bronze Medal in Music Vocal Classical
• Barack Hassan – Silver Medal in Contemporary Dance
• Brielle Henderson – Bronze Medal in Poetry (Written)
• Lois O’Goffa – Gold Medal in Drawing
• Adelaida Rodriguez – Silver Medal in Music Vocal Classical and Silver Medal in Music Vocal Contemporary

Celebrating Excellence

These accomplishments reflect the dedication, talent, and drive of the MHS Class of 2026. From academics and the arts to technology and athletics, MHS students continue to set a high standard of excellence.