Milton Hershey School Student Honored with American Heart Association Award for Saving a Life

Milton Hershey School (MHS) high school student Randy Gibson recently was awarded with the Heartsaver Hero Award from the American Heart Association (AHA) for his efforts in saving the life of another person.
Randy is honored for springing into action and performing cardiac resuscitation until medical personnel arrived when MHS Houseparent Jim Smith suffered a heart attack while running on the Milton Hershey School campus. Randy learned CPR with AED training in his 10th-grade health class. The class teaches students the necessary skills to assist in performing life-saving measures.

“I was just really calm and did what I remembered from class. It was all very surreal because I couldn’t believe I had done something like that. I just never imagined I would save someone’s life,” Randy said.

Each MHS student is given the opportunity to become certified in CPR in 10th-grade. Thanks to the school’s commitment to providing students with necessary life skills and Randy’s quick actions, Smith’s life was saved.

Featured

  • University of Illinois Moves Forward with College Sports’ Largest Digital Scoreboard

    The University of Illinois in Champaign, Ill., recently announced a series of upgrades to Gies Memorial Stadium that will include the largest scoreboard in college sports, according to a news release.

  • Abstract tech network data connections with orange, blue glowing dots, lines

    3 Trends for Higher Education to Stay Ahead of in 2026

    As universities enter the new year, the question is no longer whether digital transformation is necessary, but how quickly institutions can convert technological potential into strategic advantage.

  • Wisconsin District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    The School District of La Crosse in La Crosse, Wis., recently broke ground on a new elementary school that will consolidate the students and staff of two existing schools, according to local news. Funding for the school comes from a $53-million referendum approved in 2024.

  • DFW-Area District Opens New Replacement Middle School

    The Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District near Fort Worth, Texas, recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new replacement middle school campus, according to a news release. The new facility for Wayside Middle School, originally established in 1964, was built on the site of the former district administration building and funded through Bond Proposition A in 2023.