Jamison “Mason” Langguth ’06

Jamison “Mason” Langguth ’06 enrolled at Milton Hershey School as a seven-year-old. Having come from a home that lacked stability, MHS allowed him to see the young man he wished to become.

As a student at MHS, Mason participated in soccer and theater, while creating a strong bond with his houseparents, Phil and Cathy Bertrand. Mason credits the Bertrands for helping him become the person he is today.

Upon his graduation from MHS, Mason received his bachelor’s degree from Drexel University in psychology, one master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania in education policy, and another from Harvard University in health management.

He was chosen to give the address at his Convocation from Harvard University in May 2018. Mason focused his speech on the impact that segregation has on health and education in America. This gave him an opportunity to thank Mr. and Mrs. Bertrand for the role they played in his success.

“I am standing here today because of people like Mr. and Mrs. Bertrand from my student home, which was called Englewood. I arrived there with a discipline record that limited my opportunities at the school,” said Mason. “But instead of just being disciplinarians, my houseparents said, ‘that isn’t who you are to us.’ They broke barriers for all of their students in many ways. Unconditionally, we were their boys,” he said during the 2018 Harvard University Convocation.

Mason continues to stay in touch with Mr. and Mrs. Bertrand and gives back to the MHS community. He comes back to campus to read with elementary students during the annual GO RED (Go Read Every Day) events and stays in contact with various alumni.

“The reading event matters a lot to me because I want students to be able to have healthy interactions with alumni,” he shared.

Mason faced many challenges as he journeyed through his rigorous academic career, but never gave up, because of the foundational experience that MHS provided him.

Currently, Mason works as a Blavatnik Fellow at Yale University. Through this experience, he is able to work on launching new companies associated with a drug or technology that originated through research done at Yale. He also is a Silliman College Fellow where he advises and participates in activities with students.

When speaking with young alumni, Mason encourages them to meet new people, and challenge themselves to continue growing in their mindset and beliefs.

“There is no rehearsal for life, so you have to get out there and live it,” he said.