Nancy B. Shirley Memorial Nursing Scholarship

To honor the legacy of Nancy Balmediano (“Nance”) Shirley’s life, Nance’s husband, William David (“Dave”) Shirley, and their “kids”, their Virginia Crew nieces and nephews (Romy, Jr., Krystal, Rachel, Desiree, Kiana, and Miguel, Jr.), launched this scholarship to provide tuition assistance to current college students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from her alma mater, San Jose State University; her Virginia nieces and nephews alma maters, George Mason University (Romy, Jr. and Miguel, Jr.), Virginia Tech (Rachel), Virginia Commonwealth University (Desiree), and James Madison University (Kiana); and an Arizona Crew niece’s (Maddy) nursing school, Northern Arizona University.  

Nance was so very, very proud of her “kids” and is now their guardian angel forever!

Nancy “Nana” Balmediano Shirley was the embodiment of perseverance, kindness, and generosity. Surrounded by her loved ones, she was peacefully guided to Heaven on May 31, 2023 at the young age of 60.

Nance and her siblings were awarded US Citizenship when she was 4, moving from her life’s starting point, Pasig Rizal, Philippines, after her father completed two consecutive combat tours in Vietnam. Her many childhood homes as an Army Brat included Texas, California, Germany, Colorado, Hawaii, and Georgia. She dearly loved her parents (Fred and Connie), her brother (Arnel), and her sisters (Sue, Amelia, Tess, and Amy). Nance had the strongest loving bond with Dave, her Virginia family, and Dave’s Arizona family. Nance loved taking up to 5 mile long walks with Dave. She was also a great baker and cook, meticulously planning and preparing to host her favorite holidays, Christmas and Easter.

Always pursuing her goals, Nance joined Army ROTC and graduated from San Jose State University with a BSN, commissioned as a US Army officer, fulfilling her dream to serve as an Army Nurse. During her senior year, she met Dave Shirley at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Dave never left her side despite the long distances, and would soon become her loving husband at the West Point Catholic Chapel,the day after Dave’s graduation from West Point in May 1988.

She used her skills to light up many lives throughout various states to include civilian nursing assignments in Lawton, Oklahoma (Fort Sill); Tacoma, Washington (Fort Lewis); Indianapolis, Indiana (Fort Benjamin Harrison); and Fort Riley, Kansas. During her and Dave’s Army service and her career as a Registered Nurse, she focused on pediatrics, as her passion was serving kids in need. Captain Nancy B. Shirley served as an Army pediatrics nurse at Madigan Army Medical Center at Fort Lewis, Washington, after graduating from her officer branch basic course at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and the Army Pediatric Nursing Course at Tripler Army Medical Center at Oahu, Hawaii.

After Dave left active duty in 1995, Nance worked as a float pool pediatric nurse at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University. Her family migrated from California to Virginia in 2000, inspired by a trip to Washington, D.C. with Dave and her parents so her Dad could run the Army Ten Miler with Dave. The move’s purpose was to provide for better homes, neighborhoods, and schools for her nieces and nephews. Everyone lived with Nance and Dave while their homes were under construction, with each family eventually settling within a ten mile radius in the Ashburn, VA area. Nance willingly gave up her daily work as a nurse to turn all her attention to her sisters’ kids, “her’s and Dave’s kids”, pouring all her heart and soul into “making sure they’re all right before she leaves this earth”! Mission accomplished Captain Shirley!

This scholarship aims to honor the memory of Nancy B. Shirley by supporting students who share her passion for nursing.

Any undergraduate student pursuing an undergraduate degree in nursing at San Jose State University, George Mason University, Virginia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth University, James Madison University, or Northern Arizona University may apply for this scholarship.

To apply, tell us why you’re pursuing your nursing career.