David Allwein ’74

David Allwein ’74 credits his sister’s persistence and influence for helping him enroll at Milton Hershey School.

“My mom passed away when I was 8-years-old and my father couldn’t care for me,” said David. “I am the youngest of nine children and I was bounced around between my older siblings. It wasn’t working.”

That’s when David’s oldest sister found Milton Hershey School.

“She convinced my father to send me,” said David. “I enrolled in the summer of 1967 at the age of 10 and I thrived.”

David said MHS laid the foundation for his future. He enlisted in the U.S. Army after graduating high school and served as a combat medic and environmental health technician. He retired in 1994 and went to nursing school.

“I developed a passion for nursing at the end of my military career and became an enthusiastic learner. I earned an associate, bachelor’s, and master’s in nursing.”

David is the clinical nurse specialist and assistant director of health services at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas.

“My MHS experience was formative and contributed to where I am today,” David said. “I learned early on to think independently, take advantage of opportunities presented to me, and to be responsible for my own actions.”