Ron Shurer Memorial Scholarship

Ron Shurer Memorial Scholarship

Funder: Foundation of the United States Secret Service Association (USSSA)

Geographic Scope: United States

Program Status: Active; application window open March 10 - April 10, 2026

Background: Special Agent Ron Shurer was a man who lived a life of service. Upon graduation from college in early 2001, Ron planned to enter Marine OCS, but was rejected due to complications from a cycling accident he had as a teenager. He then decided to enter graduate school at Washington State University and was there during the attacks of September 11, 2001. Seeing how events were unfolding across the world, he again felt the call to service. He enlisted in the US Army in 2002 and went on to earn the coveted Green Beret as a Special Forces Medic. During his second deployment to Afghanistan with 3rd Special Forces Group, he was involved in the Battle of Shok Valley on April 6, 2008. Ron fought his way up a mountain to get wounded teammates who had come under heavy enemy fire and provided medical treatment to many soldiers during the six-hour battle on the side of a sheer mountain. For his heroic efforts that day, he received the Silver Star, which was upgraded in 2018 to the Medal of Honor. After leaving the military in 2009, Ron joined the United States Secret Service to continue serving his country. Ron served as a Special Agent in the Phoenix Field Office before earning a spot on the Counter Assault Team, where he served from 2014 until he died due to cancer in 2020. He is survived by his wife and two sons. In his own words: "I think everyone would benefit from finding some way to serve at some level - whether it's the military, law enforcement or just helping out in their communities. Everyone should be part of something bigger than themselves. I've been fortunate to find that service in the military and now the Secret Service."

Focus Area

• Benefit children of United States Secret Service employees

Eligibility

• Children of United States Secret Service (USSS) employees who died while still employed by the USSS
• Applicants must have been under age 18, or 18-23 and currently enrolled in school at the time of the USSS employee's death
• USSS employee did not have to be a USSSA Member at time of death
• For undergraduate or vocational/technical students

Award Details

• Award Amount: Not specified
• Notification: End of May 2026 via electronic notification; printed letters mailed by week ending June 5
• Payment: Checks mailed directly to educational institutions by end of July

Contact Information

• Address: 1415 28th Street, Suite 400, West Des Moines, IA 50266
• Phone: 515-282-8192
• Website: secretserviceassociation.org