Christopher Spinogatti ’07
Milton Hershey School may have been the final stop on Chris’ fifth grade field trip to Hershey, Pennsylvania, but it would not be his last visit. When he returned home, he was eager to tell his mom all about this amazing school and why he so desperately wanted to attend. At the time, Chris’ mother was raising him and his younger brother on her own. He watched her work 80 hours a week across multiple jobs, and Chris often found himself looking after his nine-year-old brother while he was just 12 years old himself. It was difficult. Among many things, MHS promised he could be a kid again, and that was something invaluable not only to him, but to his mom as well.
“Standing in the middle of the rotunda at Founders Hall for the first time, learning about the school, who it serves, and what its mission is, I said to myself, ‘Man, I want to go to this place,’” Chris said.
Chris enrolled at MHS on Sept. 24, 2001. He came to campus already familiar with a values-based education and dress code as he previously attended a private school in Burlington County, New Jersey, with a similar culture. As a seventh grader, he was the youngest in his student home, surrounded by eighth and ninth graders whom he looked up to as influential role models. Their passion for athletics was a welcome invitation for his own to flourish, too. He quickly became heavily involved in sports like soccer, baseball, and track & field. Athletics was just one of many ways Chris intentionally made the most of his MHS experience.
“In addition to sports, I was involved in student government and was able to travel. I took advantage of what MHS offered as much as I could to enhance my personal experience,” Chris said.
As Chris approached his senior year and began considering his post-graduation plans, he knew he wanted to pursue a career in education. Watching his mom make a difference in students’ lives as a teacher, while being shaped and supported by MHS educators and mentors himself, deeply resonated with him. Chris graduated from East Stroudsburg University, but never fully left MHS while attending college. He stayed connected through summer jobs and frequently found himself back on campus. These visits solidified his professional purpose.
“Milton Hershey School changed my life,” Chris said. “I knew, since I was a student, that I needed to come back here someday.”
After several years of student teaching and substitute teaching in various schools across Lancaster and Harrisburg, Chris joined MHS in 2012 as a fourth grade substitute teacher. The following year, he transitioned into a full-time second grade teaching position. He became a Middle Division teacher in 2021, and the Middle Division dean of students and athletic director in 2023. While Chris has had a lot of roles and titles at MHS, Coach Spinogatti is how students know him best. During boys soccer season, he can be found on the field, teaching student-athletes the art of the game while also developing their leadership skills. Through every challenging practice, victorious win, and tough loss, Chris views these moments as coaching opportunities to mold our students into their best selves.
During his professional years at MHS, Chris and his team have had the opportunity to build an athletic program that fully prepares students to play competitively while teaching them life skills through the sports they are engaged in. By building this type of programming in fifth and sixth grades and even in Elementary Division, student–athletes have already seen a 33% increase in winning games, compared to previous seasons. Chris is deeply committed to providing students with every opportunity to succeed. With the right support, resources, and environment, he is proud to witness student-athletes thrive not just on the court or the field but beyond.
“I like to teach my students that success doesn’t owe you anything, you have to work for it,” Chris said. “But success breeds success, and my goal is to help them translate the strong work ethic they build in their sport to every aspect of their lives.”
Alumni can attest that being away from home at MHS isn’t easy, and sports can act as a powerful outlet for students to experience growth. Chris felt this firsthand as a student, but having countless people and coaches mentoring him along the way were significant to his MHS story. Their example reminds him daily that even the smallest acts of encouragement—a smile, a wave, or a simple check-in—can make a world of difference in a student’s day.
“When we exemplify our continued pursuit of excellence as teachers, our students begin to do the same,” Chris said. “In this way, we Raise the Bar for our school collectively and for ourselves individually.”
The stands that were once filled with adults cheering for Chris are now filled with him and other MHS staff members, all equally dedicated to seeing every student on the field and court flourish. That is the power of the MHS community–a legacy Chris is proud to be a part of.