Our Future in Focus Strategic Plan
Renewed Focus for a Bright Future
Milton Hershey School’s Our Future in Focus strategic plan, also known as the MILT Plan, identifies our priorities. It is a roadmap for the next five years, developed under the leadership and direction of President Pete Gurt ’85. We are proud of this MHS community effort, the result of extensive feedback from all corners of campus and beyond. Learn how we plan to move MHS forward from 2020-2025.
A Message from the President
![Milton Hershey School founder, Milton S. Hershey, with a student.](https://www.mhskids.org/wp-content/uploads/mhs-2025-milton-boy-MILT-plan.jpg)
Origins of the MILT Plan
When Milton and Catherine Hershey founded our school in 1909, they intended to give children with less more. For 110 years and counting, we have done that. Through this plan, our work continues. MHS will focus on four key areas:
- Modeling Character and Well-Being
- Innovating Career-Focused Education
- Leveraging Impact
- Teamwork to Strengthen Community Alignment and Engagement
Read on for details or download the PDF.
![MHS student holding canvas](https://www.mhskids.org/wp-content/uploads/IMG_3111-800x600.jpg)
Celebrating Our Future in Focus
MHS usually starts school with a vibrant Opening of School Assembly. This all-school gathering reveals the year’s theme. Although COVID-19 shifted how we celebrated in 2020, excitement was just as high. The 2020-21 theme was special because of its tie to the MHS strategic plan, also launched in 2020.
See How We Celebrated![a group of circular icons in front of a building](https://www.mhskids.org/wp-content/uploads/mhs-2025-plan-overview-1600x457.png)
Our Future in Focus: The MILT Plan
![Milton Hershey School student athletes prepare for a game with their basketball coach.](https://www.mhskids.org/wp-content/uploads/mhs-2025-milt-plan-basketball-01.jpg)
Modeling Character and Well-Being
At Milton Hershey School, we are committed to preparing our students to enter the world after graduation equipped to thrive as self-sufficient adults who are thoughtful, compassionate, and ready to make a positive impact on their communities.
![A Milton Hershey School student meets with her Graduate Programs for Success (GPS) counselor.](https://www.mhskids.org/wp-content/uploads/mhs-2025-milt-plan-gps-02.png)
Innovating Career-Focused Education
Milton Hershey School has a long history of career-focused education. Since 1909, we have intentionally incorporated career training into our curriculum and in the process developed an award-winning Career and Technical Education program. As our world and the workforce continue to evolve, it is more important than ever that our school curriculum and career-readiness approach also evolve.
![A Milton Hershey School teacher instructs his students.](https://www.mhskids.org/wp-content/uploads/mhs-2025-milt-plan-teacher-03.jpg)
Leveraging Impact
Milton and Catherine Hershey strongly believed that the power to build an exceptional life begins with an education. They created Milton Hershey School to bring the life-changing power of education to children in need. By creating impactful solutions to difficult issues, MHS has changed thousands of lives and is now in the position to change thousands more by expanding the impact of the Hersheys’ vision.
![Milton Hershey School transportation employees in front of a school bus.](https://www.mhskids.org/wp-content/uploads/mhs-2025-milt-plan-employees-04.jpg)
Teamwork to Strengthen Community Alignment and Engagement
We get a true understanding of the strength and ability of an organization by the people in it. At Milton Hershey School, this includes staff, students, parents/sponsors, and alumni. By attracting and retaining the best, most talented people and deepening the sense of purpose, belonging, and collaboration among everyone in the MHS family, we will strengthen our school community and keep the close-knit bonds that make MHS welcoming and unique.
![Milton Hershey School students work together in the classroom to achieve success.](https://www.mhskids.org/wp-content/uploads/mhs-2025-students-classroom-e1600094771649-1600x457.jpg)
What Success Looks Like
![Read the latest Milton Hershey School Brown and Gold Annual Report.](https://www.mhskids.org/wp-content/uploads/mhs-annual-report-cover-800x800.jpg)
Stay Informed
We look forward to sharing updates with you about our progress toward Our Future in Focus. You also can read about our successes in our current Brown & Gold Report annual report.