Alumni Achievement Awards

The Alumni Achievement Award Program, developed in 1997, recognizes graduates of the School for unique, specific, or significant accomplishments in business or professional careers, such as the arts, athletics, or sciences, for community service, and for academic excellence. Annually, Milton Hershey School honors several alumni and senior students who share similar achievements in the areas of business or professional careers, community service, and academic achievement or excellence.

The honored alumni and students will be recognized during the annual dinner for alumni and MHS seniors that is sponsored by the MHS Alumni Association. Each honored senior will receive a certificate and will be awarded a $1,000 savings bond at the School's award ceremony prior to commencement in June. Honored alumni receive certificates and will be featured in a Founders Hall Display for the next year.

Emmanuel "Kofi" Brown '94 in the area of Career Accomplishments

Emmanuel "Kofi" Brown '94, of Vancouver, WA, received the Alumni Achievement Award for career accomplishments. He is the director of digital and content marketing for the Jordan brand division of NikeR and is responsible for driving local, national, and global market executions in order to support brand initiatives. He earned a B.A. in communications from West Chester University and has been employed in various positions for Nike since 1997.

Senior Nensha Kamara, a native of Aberdeen, MD, was also recognized for career accomplishments. She is currently involved in the School's cooperative educational work program at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, where she observes both physical and occupational therapists. She plans to attend Duquesne or Towson University and earn a master's degree in occupational therapy through their five-year program.

Bill Schlegel '70 in the area of Community Service

Bill Schlegel '70, of Manassas, VA, received the Alumni Achievement Award for community service. For several years, he's been an active volunteer fundraiser and team leader for Habitat for Humanity and has coordinated MHS student participation in a 2007 Habitat project in Biloxi, MS with MHS Carpentry Teacher Don Hoffer. For that particular project, Schlegel raised approximately $25,000. In addition to his work with Habitat, he is a Trustee at his church, and he and his wife, Lorita, serve on a supervisory board that operates a home for those in need of housing.

Senior Adrianna Frey, a native of York, was also recognized for community service. She is the student ambassador for the People-to-People exchange program and coordinated and participated in a volunteer project with the Public Broadcast System. Her community service extends to her work with Girl Scouts. She is currently pursuing the program's Star Award. On campus, she has organized a project to clean and restore the exterior areas of the Transitional Living Facilities. Adrianna plans to continue her service work by enlisting in the Air Force reserves. She plans to attend Pace University and pursue a career in forensic science.

Elvis Torres '97 in the area of Academic Excellence

Elvis Torres '97, of New York, NY, received the Alumni Achievement Award for academic excellence. He earned a B.S. degree in civil engineering and a B.A. degree in finance from Syracuse University. While at Syracuse, he earned varsity letters in track and field and football and achieved Academic All-Big East honors in 1997, 1998, and 2002. Torres plans on pursuing his MBA in international business to further his career in business development and strategic marketing.

Senior Thomas Simpkins, a native of Clairton, has been enrolled full-time at Penn State-Harrisburg since Aug. 2007, earning credits toward a degree in engineering. He is currently among the top academic students in his class. He plans to continue to study engineering at Carnegie Mellon University in the fall of 2008.

Milton Hershey School values the successes of our alumni and welcomes the opportunity to recognize them in an effort to provide role models for our students.

Congratulations to our Alumni Achievement Award recipients for 2008!

(L-R, back row) Milton Hershey School Alumni Association President Bob Heist '82, Alumni Achievement Award winner for community service Bill Schlegel '70, Alumni Achievement winner for academic excellence Elvis Torres '97, MHS President Johnny O'Brien '61, (L-R, front row) Alumni Achievement Award winner for career accomplishments Emmanuel Brown '94, and Senior Award winners Nensha Kamara (career), Adrianna Frey (community service), and Thomas Simpkins (academics) were recognized at the recent MHS Alumni-Senior Dinner.