William E. Dearden Alumni Campus
109 McCorkel Road, Hershey
The Dearden House is home to the Alumni Relations & Programs Offices and features displays showcasing what student home life was like in the mid to late 1950's. A replica of Mr. Dearden's office serves as a tribute to him and includes personal items donated by the Dearden family. The Dearden House is open for tours Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 AM-3:00 PM and the first Saturday of each month.
The Friendship Garden , completed in September 2005, pays tribute to all MHS graduates and features the names of all alumni engraved on granite walls along a brick pathway. The pathway is made from bricks that have been engraved with names of alumni, houseparents, teachers, and other MHS family members. There also is an area dedicated to honor the memory of students who passed away while at the School. The garden will be expanded in late 2008 through the spring of 2009. People interested in purchasing a brick can use the form at the following link: Memorial Bricks form.
The Purcell Friendship Hall , (formerly the barn), dedicated in September of 2006, was created as a place where members of the School family can hold special events and celebrations and was named in honor of MHS alumnus, Richard Purcell '61. The Purcell Friendship Hall is used almost daily during the week by MHS for staff training, student events, and alumni meetings. Future plans for the building include an interactive learning area where children and adults can learn about the rich agriculture heritage of MHS and central Pennsylvania. Completion of the learning center is scheduled for fall of 2009.
The Southfield Alumni Center was completed in March 2008 and provides transitional housing for recent graduates including summer housing for young alumni working on campus.
The entire Dearden Alumni Campus was completed by the fall of 2009 in correlation with the School's centennial.
Questions about the Alumni Campus should be directed to Doreen Garman, Alumni Campus Coordinator, at 717-520-2031.
