Anh-Son Tran ’11
From the time he was little, Anh-Son was captivated by vehicles—drawn to the way machinery could roar to life and become something powerful. His first glimpse into that world came from watching his brother work on cars, quietly observing how something broken could be understood, repaired, and made whole again. Those moments stayed with him, growing his desire to solve mechanical problems with his own hands someday. When he later arrived at Milton Hershey School, that early introduction to vehicles he gained from his brother developed into something much bigger. MHS became the place where his interest found direction, giving him the opportunities to turn childhood curiosity into hands-on expertise.
Anh-Son enrolled at MHS as a first grader. Transitioning to campus at such a young age was not easy, but his houseparents, such as the Schwartzs, Lyons, Trans, and Engles, were instrumental in helping him adjust to his new environment. They created a community where he felt supported, capable, and encouraged to explore the things that fascinated him.
As he grew older, his love for mechanics naturally drew him to the Automotive Technology Career and Technical Education program area at MHS. There, he learned to work on cars with precision and purpose. Outside of class, he held security positions across several Hershey Entertainment & Resorts properties. The experience introduced him to the disciplines of customer service, professionalism, and responsibility—skills that would follow him into every job he held after graduation.
“Be industrious, adaptable, and hardworking,” Anh-Son said. “In demanding fields like automotive and manufacturing, it’s important to stay solutions oriented.”
After graduating from MHS in 2011, Anh-Son continued building on what he loved. He enrolled in a two-year program at Universal Technical Institute, sharpening his understanding of mechanical systems before stepping into the workforce as a mechanic. At both Honda and General Motors dealerships, he learned to diagnose complex issues, adapt quickly, and navigate the demanding pace of the automotive industry.
But Anh-Son has never been someone who settles. His curiosity kept urging him forward.
He transitioned to Benson Industries, contributing to the construction of industrial-grade window systems. From there, he entered a two-year electrical program, adding another technical layer to his growing professional toolkit. His next role took him into fiberoptics at a plastics manufacturing facility—proof that he could take what he knew, including the skills he developed at MHS, and apply them almost anywhere.
When the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the world, Anh-Son shifted again, joining the company Klinge to help develop specialized units for shipping containers. This role pushed him deeper into manufacturing and strengthened his drive to keep growing in the field.
“When your work is behind the scenes, it may seem thankless, but it can still be fun,” Anh-Son said. “Not everyone may know or see what you do, but it’s so rewarding.”
Today, Anh-Son works for Engel, an Austrian machine manufacturing company with a hub in York, Pennsylvania. The work is fast-paced, innovative, and impactful—everything he has always been drawn to. His contributions have supported projects such as creating syringes for Ozempic, designing automation for conveyor systems, and developing robotics and other advanced manufacturing applications. Through Engel, Anh-Son has had the opportunity to participate in a four-year apprenticeship program with the Manufacturers Association, becoming even more versatile in electrical, mechanical, and industrial technologies.
It’s the kind of hands-on, mentally engaging work he dreamed of as a child—except now, the machines are larger, the stakes are higher, and the impact is global.
Despite his busy career, Anh-Son is intentional about staying grounded and connected to the things he loves. Music—classical, Japanese, and Korean—fills his downtime. He follows Formula 1, attends anime concerts, enjoys gaming, and savors discovering new restaurants and cuisines.
Furthermore, his encouragement to students who are considering non-traditional career paths, like himself, is to maintain constant skill development, network, and venture toward every open door possible.
“There’s a lot of fun stuff happening out there,” Anh-Son said. “Be intentional about seeking those opportunities out.”
Anh-Son’s story is a vivid example of how MHS empowers students to chase what fuels them. The hands-on learning he received in the Automotive Technology CTE program area, the responsibility he gained through working with Hershey community partners, and the support he found in houseparents and other individuals on campus who believed in him—all of it added up to the foundation he needed to build a future of purpose and possibility. The complex machinery he works on today carries the imprint of where his journey first began. And he’s nowhere near finished building the future he once dreamed about at Milton Hershey School.