Hershey Business-Readiness Program Wins National Award

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Jan 09, 2014, 10:07 ET

HERSHEY, Pa., Jan. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- A program that prepares students for the corporate world gained national attention from the Association for Career and Technical Education. The Hershey Honors Authentic Business Management Program, which is a collaboration between Milton Hershey School® (MHS) and The Hershey Company, won the award for Outstanding Business/Education Partnership, Pennsylvania.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140109/PH43067)

Creating a qualified workforce for the future is the goal behind the Hershey Honors Authentic Business Management Program, coordinated by Milton Hershey School(R) (MHS) and The Hershey Company. The successful program recently received national accolades when the Association for Career and Technical Education awarded it the Outstanding Business/Education Partnership Award. Pictured (from L) are Robert Kemmery, Director of Career/Technical Education and Transition Services at MHS; Scott Rownd, Associate Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility at The Hershey Company; and Todd Camp, Senior Director of Corporate Social Responsibility and Community Relations at The Hershey Company. (PRNewsFoto/Milton Hershey School) (PRNewsFoto/MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL)

"Our program offers high school students access to a world-class company," said Robert Kemmery, Director of Career Technical Education at MHS. "The knowledge they gain might take years for a corporate employee to achieve."

During the course, students learn from 40 different Hershey employees. These "subject matter experts," are business leaders in a Fortune 500 company, teaching students about the many challenges and opportunities they face.

"The modern business world is incredibly dynamic," said Todd Camp, Senior Director of CSR and Community Relations at Hershey. "We are proactively preparing the next generation to join our fast-paced, increasingly global workforce. Ultimately, we are cultivating the skills now that will lead to future success."

The program incorporates state-of-the-art technology. "Live binders" used in the course are digital textbooks filled with videos, documents and activities, and students maintain access to them after graduation. The classroom is completely paperless.

"The program is incredible," said senior Kayvon Asemani. "I am interested in starting my own corporation someday, and this program is helping me with this goal because it teaches every aspect of a company. I am becoming increasingly confident in my ability to pursue my business aspirations."

Participating students are part of the Business/Financial Management and Accounting career pathway through MHS's Career/Technology Education (CTE) program. CTE offers 11 vocational options to prepare students for college and career.

This is the second national honor MHS's CTE program received in 2013. In November, the Graphic Communication Technologies program earned the 2013 Frederick D. Kagy Education Award of Excellence.

ABOUT MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL
Milton Hershey School is a cost-free, private, coeducational home and school for children from families of low income. The school is funded by a trust established by Milton S. and Catherine Hershey. MHS offers a positive, structured home life year-round and an excellent pre-kindergarten through 12^th-grade education. Our vision focuses on building character and providing children with the skills necessary to be successful in all aspects of life. Learn more at www.mhskids.org.

Contact:
Nicole Wamsley, Milton Hershey School
(717) 520-2204 or [email protected]

SOURCE Milton Hershey School