UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing at UPMC Harrisburg Holds Inaugural Graduation

December 18, 2023

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Yesterday, UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing at UPMC Harrisburg held a commencement ceremony for its first graduating class at The Forum Auditorium in Harrisburg. The graduation ceremony honored a diverse class of 42 graduates, ranging in age from 20 to 52, with 34 of the graduates already committed to nursing jobs at UPMC, following their license exams.

The nursing school celebrated 31 of its graduates with recognition for honors, DAISY Awards and membership in the Student Nurse Organization. Opened in 2022, UPMC aims to strengthen the nursing workforce across our region by increasing the number of clinically trained nurses who are essential in improving health outcomes and delivering care across all clinical settings.

“I’m very excited to celebrate our graduates’ hard work following a rigorous clinical and academic experience,” Penny Lenig-Zerby, Ph.D., R.N., C.S.N., director, UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing at UPMC Harrisburg, said. “Our inaugural class highlights the increasing strength the nursing workforce brings to health care.”

The school acknowledges the tremendous partnerships with UPMC Pinnacle Foundation and Harrisburg University for their support with these opportunities to bolster the nursing workforce.

“I want to thank all of our faculty and staff who have helped us come to this point in our lives where we have the opportunity to walk across this stage having finished this rigorous 16-month program of preparation to become competent, critical thinking, adaptable, professional nurses,” Ta-Liah Jones, nurse graduate said. Jones was chosen by her peers to represent her class during commencement.

UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing at UPMC Harrisburg will hold its second commencement ceremony in August 2024, as it continues to add registered nurses to the local workforce. Students can apply now to the UPMC School of Nursing — registration is open until June 1, 2024, to begin classes in fall 2024. Learn more and submit your interest at UPMC.com/SON.