Melissa Gonzales, Class of 2015

Melissa Gonzales is a 5th-grader from Allentown who first lived in student home Eisenhower with Houseparents Craig and Dianna Cowan. She enrolled at MHS in August 2006 and was referred to the School by Lara McClintock of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Lehigh Valley. Here’s what Melissa had to say about her first months at Milton Hershey School®:

How did you feel when you first arrived?
Excited, scared, and sad to leave my mom.

What did Mr. and Mrs. Cowan do to help you get used to being here?
There is a rule that you are not to talk to your sponsor for a few weeks, but houseparents can talk with your sponsor to tell them how you are doing. That helps because I was homesick and would have told my mom to come get me.

What do you like best about living at your student home?
Being loved by my houseparents.

What are your favorite activities?
Doing all kinds of new things with by houseparents and student home.

Click to meet houseparents, Craig & Dianna Cowan

Cayce Johnston, Class of 2016

Ask 4th-grader Cayce Johnston what he likes about MHS and he'll tell you he really likes going to school. Milton Hershey School promotes a supportive environment of small classes and dedicated, caring teachers who follow each student's progress and help them discover their interests and talents. The result is a positive environment where students are open to learning. Cayce names his science teacher among his favorites because she makes learning fun. Like many classes at MHS, there are lots of hands-on activities. In this case, it's doing things with bugs and going on nature explorations. The total experience has helped Cayce become interested in science and enjoy school.

Joneisha Moore, Class of 2013

Lots of children, like Joneisha Moore, a 7th-grader with a mega-watt smile from Baltimore, Maryland, thrive at this place both academically and socially. Joneisha shares her home at Milton Hershey School with a married houseparent couple and eight other girls. She's proud of the fact that she's gotten pretty good at daily tasks such as keeping her room neat — which in turn means more privileges, like staying up a little later on the weekends.