McNees establishes scholarship fund to honor late firm leader Mark Van Blargan

McNees Wallace & Nurick today announced it has partnered with UPMC Pinnacle Foundation to establish a new scholarship fund for the UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing at UPMC Harrisburg, in honor of the firm’s late member and healthcare practice chair, Mark Van Blargan.

McNees has pledged $100,000 to establish the Mark Van Blargan Valedictorian and Salutatorian Scholarship Awards, which honor the two top performing students in each class at UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing at UPMC Harrisburg.

Van Blargan, who died in 2020, was a member and leader at McNees and had previously served as counsel for the former Polyclinic Hospital, now part of UPMC.

“Mark was a leader and trusted healthcare advocate who left an indelible mark on our firm and our entire community,” said McNees Chair Brian Jackson. “With this scholarship endowment, we are honoring Mark’s tremendous legacy by helping to support aspiring nursing professionals who will continue his legacy of service to our community for generations to come.”

The Mark Van Blargan Valedictorian and Salutatorian Scholarships will be awarded biannually and announced during the graduation ceremonies for UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing at UPMC Harrisburg. The first scholarships were awarded in August to the school’s valedictorian, Talissa Kidd, and salutatorian, Kylee Hoffman. Two more scholarships will be awarded during the next graduation ceremony scheduled for December.

“We are deeply grateful for McNees’ thoughtful consideration and partnership in honoring Mark Van Blargan’s legacy through this meaningful investment in the future of nursing and patient care,” said Dr. Penny Lenig-Zerby, director of UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing at UPMC Harrisburg. “This memorial will honor Mr. Van Blargan’s lifelong commitment to healthcare through meaningful investment in the next generation of nurses.”

Opened in 2022, the UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing at UPMC Harrisburg was established to address persistent nursing shortages and to open opportunities in a profession that is expected to continue to grow. The program offers both a 16-month full-time and 32-month part-time registered nursing curriculum, and students who successfully complete the program and pass the RN licensing examination fill nursing roles at UPMC’s seven central Pennsylvania hospitals and organizations across the region.

The Mark Van Blargan Valedictorian and Salutatorian Scholarship fund will support future nurses entering the profession, strengthen the regional healthcare workforce, and provide long-term impact through perpetual financial assistance to students pursuing nursing careers. For more information, visit upmcpinnaclefoundation.org.