Milton Hershey School and Wilkes University Support Low-Income, First-Generation College Students through New Partnership

On Wednesday, Oct. 3, Milton Hershey School signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Wilkes University. The two schools will collaborate to improve the national college graduation outcome for low-income students, which is only 14 percent according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Through the agreement, qualified MHS students are guaranteed a spot in the University’s Educational Gateway to Excellence program, WilkesEDGE, which aids students in their transition from high school to college.

“We are pleased to be partnering with Wilkes University so our graduates have the necessary resources to reach their goals,” said MHS Vice President for Graduate Programs for Success Tanya Baynham. “This partnership combined with our existing Graduate Programs for Success division adds another layer of support to offer our students.”

Milton Hershey School’s Graduate Programs for Success (GPS) Division has partnered with more than 15 postsecondary institutions across the state of Pennsylvania. In addition to the individualized guidance offered at each institution, MHS career and higher education specialists provide comprehensive support throughout the entire duration of college through postsecondary visits and weekly check-ins reminding students of important deadlines, resources, and words of encouragement.

Through focused and sustained support, MHS students who attend Wilkes will benefit from academic coaching, student engagement resources, and retention support to ensure their success throughout their entire college experience.

“Wilkes University has a long history of educating students from Milton Hershey School. It is the success of these students that inspired a more formalized partnership that honors our tradition of supporting first-generation college students,” said Wilkes University Provost Anne Skleder.

This latest partnership demonstrates Milton Hershey School’s ongoing commitment to strengthen its graduates’ postsecondary experiences and improve the national college graduation outcome for low-income students.