Pennsylvania school denies admission to HIV-positive student

The Milton Hershey School was founded by the chocolate tycoon as a school that "nurtures and educates children in social and financial need to lead fulfilling and productive lives."

But it seems that fulfillment won’t be coming for a 13-year-old honor student from Delaware County who is infected with the virus that causes AIDS.

"I feel no other teenager should go through this, being denied just because they have HIV," the boy said in an exclusive interview with NBC Philadelphia’s Denise Nakano.

The private boarding school doesn’t deny that they rejected the boy’s admission because of concerns for the health and safety of fellow students.

The 13-year-old has lived with HIV all of his life but doesn’t feel it defines him.

He excels in school, is active in sports and is learning to speak two foreign languages. He was hoping to go to Hershey -- a cost-free, private boarding school for children from low-income families -- to advance his education.

I personally feel this is profoundly disappointing.  This is NOT how we treat the children of this country; this is NOT how we encourage the young people of this country to succeed.

I'm very saddened to hear that this is how the Milton Hershey School would handle an issue as sensitive and delicate as this.

Very sad.