Shannon Matthews

Originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Shannon Matthews first served in the Oklahoma Army National Guard for four years, before enlisting in the U.S. Army in April 1992.

In September 1994, while serving as part of Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti, CPL Matthews was stabbed in the leg by an enemy combatant in close contact fighting.

Along with his Purple Heart, Matthews was awarded numerous medals and commendations during his service, including the Air Assault Badge, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, as well as the Southeast Asia Service Medal. Upon completing his time in the military, Matthews went back to school and completed his degree in Business at Oklahoma State University – Tulsa campus, where he was recognized as a “Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities.”

After completing his degree, Mr. Matthews went on to work in the civilian world, including positions with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Army Recruiting Command, Army Reserve Contracting Agency, before eventually retiring from the Army Corps of Engineers in 2012. To help give back to his fellow veterans, especially those who enroll in college later in life, in 2010 Matthews established the Shannon L. Matthews Veterans Scholarship at his alma mater, Tulsa Community College.