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Maria Trinh Kraus has been announced as the newly elected Chairman of the Milton Hershey School Board of Managers and the Hershey Trust Company Board of Directors. PHOTO/PROVIDED
Milton Hershey School names alumna as new chairman
The Milton Hershey School board of managers and the Hershey Trust Co. board of directors have elected Maria Trinh Kraus as chairman.
Kraus is the first female Milton Hershey School (Class of 1989) graduate to serve in this position. In her time at MHS, Kraus was valedictorian and later a recipient of the school’s Alumni Career Achievement Award.
She was elected to both boards in 2018 and most recently served as vice chairman, a position she was appointed to in 2020. In addition, she is one of three representatives from the boards to serve as a member of The Hershey Co. board of directors and sits on the M.S. Hershey Foundation board of managers.
“Maria is an exceptional leader with the ability to inspire others to excel,” Diane Koken, outgoing chairman, said in a release. “She has a clear vision for the future of MHS and HTC and will be diligent in safeguarding the assets on behalf of Milton Hershey School. Above all, she is enthusiastic about furthering the mission of MHS and serving as a role model for future generations of students.”
Kraus added: “Reflecting on the nearly eight years I spent as a student at MHS, what stands out is the gratitude I feel for the gift of education and family that I – and so many others – were provided. It is both a privilege and a significant responsibility to serve the organization that I credit for changing my life. I could not be more enthusiastic about using my skills, knowledge and experiences to enhance the school and the Hersheys’ legacy.”
Kraus has more than 25 years of experience and leadership in finance, strategy, corporate development and board governance. She is a certified public accountant and is currently the chief financial officer at Wedgewood Pharmacy.
Paula Wolf is a freelance writer
