Cape May County Students Thrive at Milton Hershey School

VILLAS – Quinton Greger, of Court House, is an exceptional student and athlete. He is the goalie for his school’s soccer and hockey teams, but his true talent shines on the baseball diamond where he plays first base. Greger is a member of the student government association and is currently taking AP Psychology and AP World Cultures. He wants to be a chemical engineer. MIT, Princeton and Villanova have all made the list of schools Greger plans to check out when applying for college.
Greger has a wealth of opportunities before him. But were it not for a difficult and selfless decision by his parents, Greger’s life might’ve been very different. Greger’s family, which includes seven other siblings, struggles financially. While there was no shortage of love, dreams of Ivy League schools and equestrian clubs seemed out of reach. That is until Greger’s family learned of Milton Hershey School, a boarding school located in Hershey, Penn. exclusively for children from low-income families. Greger is currently one of 10 children from Cape May County attending this unique and life-changing school.
The Milton Hershey School was founded in 1909 by Milton S. Hershey and wife Catherine after the couple learned they could not conceive a child of their own. Wanting to help children in need, the Hershey Industrial School for orphaned boys was formed. It was Catherine’s hope that the school would serve 100 children. Today, the school is home to almost 10,000 graduates across the country.
Catherine passed away in 1915, prompting Milton to do something rather remarkable. He gave his entire fortune to the Milton Hershey School to continue and support Catherine’s dream. The Milton Hershey School Trust funds the school entirely and to this day, the trust’s assets have grown to a value exceeding $7 billion.
“We are still funded by the Hershey Company,” said Admissions Counselor Deb Leach during a family event at the Cape May County Library in Villas Nov. 6. “We don’t get any federal money. We don’t get any state money. So when making the difficult decisions when standing in Wawa, what kind of candy to get, keep in mind, Snickers bars sure do taste good, but they don’t send kids to school like we do.”
Leach was hosting the event to raise awareness for the Milton Hershey School. She said Cape May County has been home to a number of successful students and graduates. According to the terms of the trust, preference is given to children in Pennsylvania, making up 70 percent of those enrolled. However, the other 30 percent of students come from all over the country, including California, Vermont, Texas and of course, New Jersey.
Milton Hershey School has approximately 1,900 students with plans to increase enrollment to 2,000 students over the next few years. No longer just for boys, the school is home to girls and children from a variety of ethnic and religious backgrounds. But the focus of the school has not strayed from Milton’s original vision.
“Our mission has remained the same,” said Leach, “to nurture and educate children in social and financial need to lead fulfilling and productive lives.”
Those children, like Greger, have access to a quality education, athletics and extracurricular activities, medical and dental care (including braces), clothing, a hair salon and even a water park at no financial cost to the family. “A lot of these things are similar to what the rich boarding schools offer across our country,” said Leach. “But we are not a school for families who come from wealthy backgrounds. We are a school for kids who come from families of lower income and limited resources.”
Greger’s mother, Debra, was also in attendance. She wanted to lend support to other families who might be thinking about sending their child to Milton Hershey School. “The transition was harder for me than for him,” she admitted. “But it was one of the most selfless acts I could do for my child.”
And while the decision to send Greger to Milton Hershey School was a difficult one, Greger and his family know that it was the right one for him. In fact, Debra was so impressed with the school that she’s hoping to enroll her two young daughters in a year or two.
Before enrolling in Milton Hershey School, Greger had trouble staying motivated, but now he has a sense of pride and accomplishment. “Milton Hershey School shapes you for a brighter future and makes you more responsible,” Greger said in an email exchange with the Herald. “It is getting me prepared for life.”
Unlike traditional public schools, Milton Hershey School requires students to earn career certifications. “This is what Milton Hershey wanted, to have each child walk away with a marketable skill,” said Leach. While 90 percent of Milton Hershey School graduates go on to higher learning, having a certification gives them a leg up or something to fall back on.
In order to be considered for enrollment at Milton Hershey School, a child and his/her family need to meet some very specific criteria. First, they must come from a family of low income, limited resources, and social need. Secondly, the child must be between the ages of four and 15 at the time of enrollment. Finally, the child must have the ability to learn and be free of serious emotional and behavioral problems that would disrupt life in the classroom or the home.
According to Leach, the hardest part of the decision to send a child to Milton Hershey School is not seeing the child every day.
“Milton Hershey School is a boarding school-like environment. The kids do stay with us most of the time and that is tough,” said Leach. “Many of our families will tell you this was the hardest decision they ever made in their life.”
Attending Milton Hershey School is an adjustment for the child as well and homesickness is common. “They miss home,” said Leach. “It’s tough and prior to the child enrolling we talk about homesickness extensively.”
Families stay connected through letters, phone calls and emails. Parents are also invited to visit the campus on most weekends and children do return home for holidays or long weekends a few times a year. But while they’re at school, the children forge bonds with their houseparents and fellow students. There are numerous student homes on campus, each with eight-12 students. Houseparents, a married couple who have undergone extensive training and background checks, provide structure and support.
“We’re not taking the place of a family back home,” explained Leach. “Our students have loving families, people that they connect with back home, but we like to see ourselves as an extended family.”
Next year, Greger will transfer from a student home to a transitional living apartment with approximately four other students and an adult. In an effort to better prepare graduates for the real world, seniors learn how to manage a food budget and are required to get their Pennsylvania driver’s license. But the school’s involvement doesn’t stop after graduation.
“We do work extensively with our students when they graduate,” said Leach. “We want them to be successful so we will work with them at least five years after graduation.” That includes phone calls, emails, and even visits to college campuses.
To help ease any financial burden associated with the cost of college, Milton Hershey School also offers students the opportunity to earn up to $80,000 in scholarship money.
“They earn this based on grades and behavior,” explained Leach. That means students must maintain a 2.5 GPA during their four years in high school while receiving no more than 50 behavior points. “If you combine our scholarship money with the families’ income, typically our kids are getting to go to their undergrad for free.”
Steve Pace, whose son Shayne enrolled in Milton Hershey School last year, is thrilled with the school. “We were just up last weekend to see him play football,” said Pace. “He’s always doing something, taking advantage of every opportunity.”
Henry Ahrendts, a 1945 graduate is a strong supporter of Milton Hershey School and he returns every year for Homecoming. Born in Philadelphia, Ahrendts was sent to the school after his father passed away. He recalled the time the school required students to milk the cows each morning; and while the school no longer considers that a requirement, many students enjoy participating in Goat Club and other agricultural activities.
“I praise this school,” Ahrendts said, proudly wearing a shirt emblazoned with the school’s logo. “There’s nothing else like it.”
To contact Kirby Reed, email kreed@cmcherald.com.