Milton Hershey School Will Raise the Bar in the 2024-25 School Year
The Milton Hershey School community was inspired to Raise the Bar for the 2024-25 school year during the annual Opening of School Assembly. Students and staff were reminded to achieve future success, they must live out the school’s Sacred Values, which were instilled by our founders, Milton and Catherine Hershey.
President Pete Gurt ’85 said the 2024-25 annual theme, Raise the Bar, is designed to motivate everyone to build upon their successes as inspired by Breakthrough. The school community will Raise the Bar by enrolling more students and hiring more dedicated professionals who will inspire them to greatness.
“Celebrate your Breakthroughs, but Raise the Bar higher every time you succeed,” Gurt said.
MHS students and staff were challenged to help each other realize their potential. The sense of belonging that everyone creates for one another is where raising the bar pride comes from.
“You are setting an example for our entire town to see, and you can make Mr. and Mrs. Hershey proud,” event host, Marcus Paul James ’99, said.
AI-generated audio of Mr. Hershey quoted him as saying that he thought beginning to sell chocolate bars in 1900 would be his greatest achievement. Nine years later, Mr. and Mrs. Hershey decided to Raise the Bar by opening Hershey Industrial School (now MHS). Even though he had already accomplished so much, Mr. Hershey continued to dream big. During the Great Depression in the 1930s, he kept everyone employed and built the now iconic buildings throughout town.
To help the MHS community visualize how they can honor our founders and achieve success, James led assembly attendees on an interactive trolley ride throughout the Hershey community. The tour and passport book stopped at memorable locations such as the Homestead, Hershey Smokestacks, Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning, Catherine Hall, and Founders Hall.
“Our travels this morning will take you on the path you need to accept the challenge,” James said.
MHS houseparents Andrea and Dustin Esquibel emphasized that the Hersheys’ ventures into chocolate and education were united. A video featured members of the MHS community sharing how chocolate changed their lives.
Trolley rides follow a pre-determined route, and MHS must follow a clear path to achieve its goals. Lauren Turnbull, MHS Vice President of Strategy and Research, reminded the MHS community that 2025 is the last year of the school’s five-year strategic plan—also known as the MILT Plan—and everyone must work together to accomplish the goals.
“As we do this, we will all become our greatest selves and Raise the Bar to achieve things we never thought would be possible,” Turnbull said.
The Hershey Entities—Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, The Hershey Company, Hershey Trust Company, and Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center—are key partners in helping MHS students achieve their dreams. Tara Valoczki, MHS Senior Director of Curriculum and Instruction, told the crowd that this summer, 150 MHS students completed authentic work experiences at Hershey entity partners tied to their career goals.
“I believe that One Hershey is the best Hershey,” Valoczki said.
Jane Gurt, wife of President Pete Gurt ’85, and Chris Brown, HE&R Director of Planning, illustrated how the MHS community also gives back to its HE&R partners. The pair unveiled “Raise the Bar Spartan Ice Cream.” The dessert was created by an MHS student and will be available for the public to taste at select HE&R properties such as Milton’s Ice Cream Parlor.
One Hershey has helped generations of MHS students, including President Gurt. The audience watched a 1977 Hershey Company commercial featuring 10-year-old Gurt. He told the crowd that appearing in that commercial bolstered his confidence in achieving great things. Gurt said even as a young fourth grader; he felt the power of our One Hershey philosophy—everyone working together to represent what Mr. Hershey intended.
“The power for change comes from a community that knows what it cares about. Loving ourselves and knowing our worth gives us confidence to Raise the Bar with pride. Because proud moments are the building blocks of confidence and self-belief,” he said.
The Opening of School Assembly challenges MHS to Raise the Bar throughout the 2024-25 school year. Attendees received a passport book that features monthly reflections to help them honestly assess their strengths and weaknesses. Students will use these guided prompts as part of their student home Compass Project lessons.