Milton Hershey School Hosts Its Sixth Annual Girls Grace Empowerment Conference Encouraging Self-Love
For its sixth year, Milton Hershey School hosted its annual Girls Grace Empowerment Conference where 120 high school girls came together in unity. The conference—an overnight lock-in event—included panels, workshops, hands-on activities, food, and time to network with MHS female staff and alumnae.
Girls Grace was originally created to provide a space where the women at MHS could come together and be their authentic selves, while growing alongside their peers and female mentors. The event has grown and continues to be a way for MHS students to learn about themselves, while growing in their character and leadership skills.
“I kicked the event off with a quote: ‘Girls with Dreams, Become Women with Vision.’ Girls Grace started off as a dream written on lined paper,” shared Sharice Johnson, MHS Student Character and Leadership Coordinator and Girls Grace Event Director. “I had an after school club called ‘the Young Women’s Alliance,’ and every year that program grew and grew. I knew I couldn’t keep up with the program alone. So, I created the Girls Grace event to meet the needs of our female students wanting to grow their confidence and self-love.”
The theme of this year’s conference was “Self-Love: I Love Me,” bringing influential women from across campus and around the local community—including MHS alumnae—to MHS to share their stories and empower the next generation of female leaders. From executives at local corporations to recent graduates, the guest panelists and workshop presenters were eager to take part in this unique event.
“Girls Grace is an event that I wish I had a chance as a student to attend. Being able to come back and run workshops and sit on the alumnae panel was so nostalgic,” shared Victoria Warne ’12, MHS alumna. “Young women truly need these events as they learn to truly love themselves each and every day. I am looking forward to all future events to help our MHS girls love and respect themselves.”
This program encourages female students to apply the MHS Sacred Values and the themes of the school’s character and leadership development curriculum to their personal lives.
“The importance of the Girls Grace Empowerment Conference is to provide our girls with a night full of skill building to inspire and empower them to be their greatest self,” shared Johnson. “Events like this offer our students the opportunity to learn more about themselves, find their voice, and focus on self-confidence. Additionally, this is an opportunity to connect and network with strong women who are staff, alumnae, and community leaders. Without the dedication of these MHS staff, alumnae, and community volunteers, this event would not be possible.”