Office of the President – Pete Gurt ’85
President of Milton Hershey School – Pete Gurt ’85
Since 2014, Pete Gurt has served as the 10th president of Milton Hershey School. President Gurt is an accomplished academic leader, filling multiple administrative roles during his time at the school. Under his leadership, MHS has grown to record enrollment of more than 2,200 students, launched a program to support young graduates, and established Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning.
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About Our Home and School
Milton Hershey School was founded by famous chocolatier Milton S. Hershey and his wife Catherine in 1909. For more than a century, the school has flourished while serving students and families in search of greater opportunity.
Strategic Vision from the Office of the President
President Gurt has designed several ambitious strategic plans during his tenure at MHS. His most recent strategic vision, Our Future in Focus: The MILT Plan, includes the following pillars:
- Modeling Character and Well-Being
- Innovating Career-Focused Education
- Leveraging Impact
- Teamwork to Strengthen Community Alignment and Engagement
MHS students and graduates often refer to themselves as Milts—a term that has spanned generations. It is only fitting that our strategic vision, focused on student and graduate success, dons the same name.
Under President Gurt’s leadership, MHS also celebrated many outcomes from our 2015-2020 strategic plan, 2020 Vision.
Expanding Our Impact
In 2020, President Gurt led the creation of Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning—made up of at least six Early Childhood Education Centers in Pennsylvania. CHS provides an educational, social, and cognitive day program to children from six weeks to age 5, with all costs covered.
Learn about CHSEducation and Achievement Beyond MHS
President Gurt is dedicated to helping children have a brighter future. He serves on the Board of the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools, which governs all independent schools in the state.
President Gurt also has received community recognition and accolades in several areas:
- Administrator of the Year (2009): Recognized by the Coalition of Residential Excellence for his commitment to excellence in residential education through his role as an administrator.
- Alumni Achievement Award (2014): Recognized for his dedication to educating lower-income children by The Pennsylvania State University (Harrisburg) School of Behavioral Sciences and Education
- Hershey Rotary Club: Recognized as a dedicated community servant at the Hershey Rotary Club
After graduating from MHS, he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Temple University and a master’s degree in education from The Pennsylvania State University in Harrisburg. In 2023, President Gurt also received an honorary doctorate degree in education from Elizabethtown College for his contributions in this field.
Learn More about Life After MHS
Leadership through the Years
President Gurt always goes the extra mile for his alma mater. Before becoming president, he served in several leadership roles across campus including Vice President of Administration, Vice President of Education and Student Life, and most recently, MHS Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. President Gurt also was assistant coach of the MHS varsity girls’ basketball team, and with his wife Jane, has provided support as a relief houseparent for 10 years.
He also served on the Board of the MHS Alumni Association and was president of the William E. Dearden Alumni Campus Advisory Board.
Inspiration from President Gurt
President Gurt’s passion for Milton Hershey School and its students’ success is evident. He plays an active role in all areas of the school and his words inspire students, faculty, and staff.
Greater Together
There is power in numbers. At MHS, we believe that our community is what strengthens us to achieve new milestones and overcome incredible obstacles. For more than a century, our community has thrived thanks to our founders.
Day 1 … Day WON
Small habits create big change. Every MHS student is provided the tools and resources to successfully achieve their journey from their very first day at the school to Commencement and beyond.
Breakthrough
MHS is the key to unlocking potential. From learning and discovering new talents to shattering real and perceived barriers, our community is committed to achieving our Breakthrough and becoming the very best version of ourselves.
Raise the Bar
Since 1909, the MHS community has elevated expectations and lived with Spartan pride to Raise the Bar. At MHS, this call to action is not defined by doing more, it’s about doing better.
Contact the Office of the President
Milton Hershey School
1201 Homestead Road
Hershey, Pa. 17033
Administrative office hours:
Monday-Friday
8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Telephone: 717-520-2020
Media inquiries:
Contact the Office of Communications and Marketing
Telephone: 717-520-2200
Email: [email protected]