Milton Hershey School, World of Outlaws, Hersheypark Host Hershey Sprint Car Experience
Milton Hershey School, World of Outlaws, and Hershey Entertainment & Resorts joined forces on Thursday, May 8 to reveal career opportunities to students and provide one of the premier racing events of the year in Pennsylvania.
Additionally, sprint car racing fans learned of the exceptional educational and employment opportunities available at MHS. The Hershey Sprint Car Experience welcomed more than 20 professional race car drivers to Hersheypark Stadium.
The event celebrated modern-day racing while paying tribute to those who raced here 86 years ago. Hersheypark Stadium was once the home of the Hershey Stadium Speedway, which opened May 18, 1939.
“People are super engaged, super interested in this area and they love it,” said World of Outlaws driver Giovanni Scelzi. “We’re here for them and to help get them involved and love racing like we do.”
Meanwhile, during the event, guests engaged in hands-on activities through various stations in the stadium. Students had the opportunity to sit in cars, talk to drivers about their professions, and learn about the different racing classifications.
“I think it is very important to show them that there is something outside of just a normal nine-to-five job, something that’s a very cool lifestyle to live,” said driver Brock Zearfoss. “You know it looks really cool, but there’s a lot of hard work and to explain that to the kids, to make them understand that if you have visions and goals you’ve got to work hard at it, and that’s what they try to do here.”
Earlier in the day, professional race car drivers visited Career and Technical Education classes in the school’s Middle and Senior Divisions.
Senior Division students met Sheldon Haudenschild, Scelzi, and Zearfoss.
The visit began with drivers sharing the story of their racing careers. Then, they answered students’ questions about this career path and the skills they can learn in a classroom that can transfer into a professional racing experience.
Brielle Pimble, a junior at MHS, was excited to hear from the drivers about their unique careers.
“Hearing how much fun they have and how excited they are really allows me to see that when I go into this, I’m going to feel that same way,” said Pimble. “I already feel so interested, and I get more excited about coming to class and working on the cars every day.”
At Catherine Hall, MHS Middle Division students heard from Cole Macedo and Michael “Buddy” Kofoid, who shared their experience with professional racing and then participated in a science innovation lab with the students.
Through events like the Hershey Sprint Car Experience and the MHS partnership with World of Outlaws, students have hands-on learning opportunities and the chance to explore their passions.