Shirley Gilter graduated from Nashville High School before attending Kaskaskia College from 1976-1978 where she participated in softball, volleyball, women's basketball and women's tennis.  Shirley excelled in all four sports. 

As a freshman member of the Blue Angels Softball team, Shirley received the Most Stolen Bases Award and the Top Batting Average Award.  In her second season with softball, Shirley was selected as Team Most Valuable Player and received the Most Stolen Bases Award and Most Runs Scored. Shirley was named to the All-Conference Team in her freshman and sophomore seasons with the softball team.

In 1976 Shirley received Top Server Awards while playing for the Blue Angels Volleyball team and concluded her freshman year on the Blue Angels Basketball team, with the Field Goal Award, Most Valuable Player Award and was an All-Conference selection. 

An all around athletes, Shirley was named Team Most Valuable Player for the Blue Angel Tennis squad and qualified for the State Tournament in 1977- 1978.  Shirley was also chosen for inclusion in the "Who’s Who Among Community College Athletes."

Shirley graduated with an Associate in Arts Degree from Kaskaskia College in 1978 and received an athletic scholarship to Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.  Shirley passed away in 1978 and was inducted posthumously.