Alumnus of the Year 2006

E. Michael Kenna '70

Milton Hershey School® Graduate E. Michael Kenna '70 has been selected as the School's 2006 Alumnus of the Year for his career achievements and environmental stewardship.

Since 1954, Milton Hershey School® annually honors an alumnus who demonstrates humanitarianism and exemplary service to others, achieved distinguished service in their careers, and demonstrated high standards of achievement, both personally and professionally.

The MHS Alumnus of the Year serves as a role model for students and an example of achievement to which they can aspire. The individuals who have received this award over the past 50 years exemplify the numerous outstanding achievements of the School's graduates.

For the last 30 years, Kenna has owned and operated Printery Communications and Star Media and Copy Center in Port Townsend, Wash. , with his wife Pat. Their business offers marketing, graphic design, commercial printing and mailing, digital photography, database publishing, and copy center services. In 2002, Kenna and his wife were named Business Leaders of the Year by the Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce.

Their business was the first in their region to attain the highest level of sustainable certification in the graphic arts through the Forest Stewardship Council and has been recognized as an environmental innovator for more than two decades. Printery is committed to environmentally friendly printing techniques, such as reduced consumption and spoilage through just-in-time digital printing practices, vegetable-based inks, and tree-free papers.

Kenna has also been honored with preservation awards for restoring commercial and residential buildings and is a founding board member of the Port Townsend Mainstreet Project and the Jefferson County Municipal Transit. He was one of three founding directors-managers of Mariner Bank, a successful community bank launched in 2002.

Kenna served as a 12-year member and president of the Port Townsend City Council; and as a member of Rotary International, he earned distinction as a multiple Paul Harris Fellow for his contributions to the organization.

A native of Pottsville , Kenna enrolled at MHS at the age of 13. He credits his career path to the vocational education he received at the School. At MHS, he studied graphic arts and printing, and at the encouragement of his graphic arts instructor, went on to study at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Kenna will be honored during the School's commencement program on June 4. In addition, photos and information about him will be displayed in Founders Hall.