Milton Hershey School Seniors Participate in End-of-Year Activities

For Milton Hershey School seniors, this week has presented itself as the beginning of the end. As students finished out their final school days, celebration and excitement for Commencement was seen across campus. Throughout the week, MHS soon-to-be-graduates participated in several activities that gave them time with each other and time to reflect on their journeys at the school.

On Sunday, June 5, seniors and their families participated in their final chapel service and awards ceremony. The event featured several student speakers, musical numbers, and messages from campus leadership.

President Pete Gurt ’85 addressed the Class of 2022, reminding them of the importance of the time they have to reflect in the week ahead and before they graduate. Pastor Mike Wagner, Director of Religious Programs, challenged seniors to find their own definition of success. Following the chapel service, many students were recognized with awards for their achievements inside and outside the classroom.

Awards were not the only gift that seniors were presented with this week, however. As a part of a special ceremony on Tuesday, June 7, each member of the Class of 2022 was gifted their MHS class ring. The ring—not having changed for more than 80 years—symbolizes three things: sacrifice, opportunity, and gratitude. President Gurt took this moment to share with his younger MHS brothers and sisters the importance of the class ring.

“Hold onto this ring. Cherish it because it means so much. Every time you achieve success, you can look down at the ring and reflect on what got you to that success,” he shared. “Then, each time you hit a bump in the road, you can look down at that ring and say, ‘I have what it takes to overcome.’ That is my request of you. That you cherish the importance of this ring.”

Throughout the remainder of the week, seniors spent an evening at Hersheypark, took their class trip to Guppy Gulch, a water park, and they finished out the week preparing for their prom. This week was busy for our seniors, but it was a time for them to celebrate with one another everything that Commencement means—adventuring on to the next chapter of their lives’ while leaving behind the place that many of them experienced their childhoods together.

Learn More About Commencement Weekend at MHS Read More About the Class of 2022

2022 Senior Chapel and Awards Ceremony—Milton Hershey School