4 The Spartan Hall of Fame Honoring creative talent, athleticism, and dedication For almost a century, the hard work and talents of Milton Hershey School students and staff have brought honor to our School, our community, and our home. To ensure that these contributions receive recognition and to serve as an inspiration to MHS students and staff of today and tomorrow Milton Hershey School established the Spartan Hall of Fame in 2003. Candidates for membership in the Spartan Hall of Fame are graduates of Milton Hershey School, or current or retired staff members who meet a set of specified requirements in ath-letics or the visual and performing arts. Alumni and staff members may be nominated and honored posthumously. The School s Alumni Relations and Programs Office, which administers The Spartan Hall of Fame program, seeks nominations throughout the School year. A committee of MHS staff reviews the nominations and selects and announces inductees in the fall of each year. 2006 SPARTAN HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES V I S U A L & P E R F O R M I N G A R T S J. Duncan Kriebel (Hired in 1966 Retired in 2002) English teacher, Director of Dramas, and Speech teacher who introduced hundreds of MHS students to the performing arts. The Shakespeare elective was one of the most popular courses at Senior Hall. From 1966-1975, wrote, produced, and directed six major plays while a teacher in Catherine Hall. Produced the first play performed on FH stage Miracle on Chocolate Ave. Directed and produced the Spartan Players productions for 10 years including five Shakespeare plays and the first dinner theater at MHS. Class Advisor for five different classes. Coordinated the Acropolis for 13 years (non-consecutive) including the Bicentennial edition in 1976. In 1992, coordinated the last Acropolis produced by the MHS printing program.
5 Lou Bocian Fred Madeira Robert High Robert Schaeffer Dale Peiffer 1949 HIS Quartet In 1949, a male quartet representing the HIS was awarded the highest honor of State Champions in the Pennsylvania statewide Forensic Music competition. They competed against 15 other male quartets in District, County, and State competitions. The quartet included: First Tenor Louis Bocian, Second Tenor Robert Schaeffer, Baritone Robert High (deceased), Bass Fred Madeira (deceased), and Pianist Dale Peiffer. No other quartet from HIS/MHS has ever attained the honor of State Champions. In addition, the members of the quartet also participated in the HIS band, sang in the HIS choir and Glee Club, and also played in the School orchestra. The HIS Glee Club, of which all were quartet members, won the honor of State Champion Male Chorus in 1947, 1948, and 1949. The music director of the 1949 HIS Quartet was Mr. J. Ross Albert, presently residing in South Carolina. Robert Schelhorn (Hired in 1965 Retired in 2004) Beginning in 1965, was the School s middle school art instructor for 39 years. For 20 of those years, also served as the elementary school art instructor. From its inception, taught the summer art programs that allowed students to work with a vast array of media, as well as take weeklong museum excursions. Created an art media program in the middle school for the gifted and talented students which eventually grew into an evening art program that included both middle and high school students. Sent many students to Scholastic Art Award competitions received many gold and silver awards. Involvement in the Scholastic Arts Program led him to become Chairman for Area 5, which includes all the schools in Dauphin County. For more than 30 years, designed and painted the backdrops for the Parent Weekend Shows and created sets and props for various musical groups.
6 Elizabeth Cunningham 97 Earned the Girl Scouts Gold Award by writing and directing the play, Voices: African American Women, Past, Present, and Future. Because of the play, she was featured on an NBC news story during African American History Month. Won a starring role in Pretty Fire at HACC. Member of the Tennessee cast that won three first-place honors in PA, and then went on to win internationally in Lincoln, NE, in 1995. A.K.A. Sorority Senior Salute for Outstanding Achievement in the Performing Arts, 1997. Earned 1st place in Tap, Jazz, and Ballet and was in the 1st place Dance Team at the NADAA Dance Competition, 1997. Was a member of the Dance Team that placed at the Sunfest Dance Competition. Received an Honorable Mention for the ensemble work in for colored girls who have consid-ered suicide when the rainbow is enuf at the Buckstown Theatre Festival in 1996. ~ Gospel Choir 9-12 ~ Spartan Players 9-12 ~ International Thespian Society 11-12 ~ Varsity Choir 9-12 ~ New Horizons 11-12 ~ Spartan Dance Team 10-12 Edwin Vega 98 ~ New Horizons 9-12 ~ Varsity Choir 9-12 ~ District Chorus 11-12 ~ Regional Chorus 11-12 ~ Honors Choir 9-12 ~ County Choir 9-12 ~ Gospel Choir 9-12 ~ MHS Dance Team 10-12 ~ Susquehanna Youth Chorale 11-12 ~ International Thespian Society 11-12 Had roles in major MHS plays throughout high school including the annual Passion Play.
7 A T H L E T I C S Ray Topper 49 Played on the Varsity team as a sophomore, junior, and senior. Stellar pitcher for the 1949 HIS baseball team winning the Central Penn Baseball League Championship. Triple-threat: Run-Pass-Punt Gifted athlete who was offered a full athletic scholarship to several major colleges and universi-ties including the University of Georgia Also played basketball. Johnny O Brien 61 Selected as a Big 33 quarterback one of only three HIS/MHS football play-ers to do so. Received the Bronze Shoe Award, recognizing the Best High School Football Player in PA. Received the B nai Brith Sportsmanship prize. Catcher and captain for the varsity baseball team led team with a.486 batting average. President of his class and president of the National Honor Society. Led one of the School s greatest football upsets over Lancaster McCaskey H.S. Led the School to Top 5 ranking among all Central PA schools. Frank Etchberger 50 Member of the 1949 HIS baseball team winning the Central Penn Baseball League Championship. Established new school basketball career scoring record with 334 points. Second in Central Penn League basketball season scoring. Twice tied school basketball single game scoring record with 25 points. Chosen as center for Central Penn All-Star Basketball Team. ~ Baseball 9-12 ~ Basketball 9-12 ~ Football 11-12
8 Brenda Armstrong 86 Member of the MHS girls varsity basketball team 9-12. Freshman year scored 45 points. Sophomore year scored 305 points and led Spartans as runner-up in the District III Class A Championship. Junior year averaged 18 points per game and received an honorable mention to Harrisburg s Patriot-News Big 15 Team. Was second as Division II scorer and was selected to the Mid-Penn 2nd Team All-Conference during her junior year. Senior year averaged 20 points per game and was selected to Harrisburg s Patriot-News Big 15 team. Was ranked 2nd in Mid-State scoring and ranked 1st in Division II scoring. Scored 1,072 high school career points 50% of team points scored during senior year. Received the Central Chapter of the PA Sports Hall of Fame Meritorious Achievement Award in May 1986. John Cook Coaching (Hired in 1960 Retired in 1992) Coached 8th- and 9th-grade boys basketball, 1960-61. Assistant coach of boys junior varsity football, 1960-62. Coached boys varsity basketball 1961-77 John s team won the Capital Area Conference in basketball in 1975. It is the first recorded championship in basketball in the School s history. When girls were admitted to MHS, John was asked to start, organize, and develop new athletic programs for female students. Thus, he began the girls basketball and softball programs. Coached girls varsity basketball, 1981-1984. The 1984 team played in the girls District Championship and also qualified for states. Coached girls varsity softball, 1981-84. Assistant coach, girls varsity basketball, 1990-92. In addition to his athletic involvement, he also taught high school mathematics, high school reli-gious education classes, and drivers education. He was named head of the mathematics department in 1964 and in 1967, became the Director of Religious Education. John also was the class advisor for the classes of 1963, 1978, and 1981. John has coordinated Homecoming activities for the MHSAA and is an honorary member of that organization.