Miami-Dade College Honors Late Firefighter With Scholarship

The program supports aspiring firefighters in memory of Ezekiel Urrutia, who died in a 2025 wrong-way crash.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Scholarships

Bold flat-color editorial illustration featuring a geometric silhouette of an emergency vehicle grill, symbolizing service and memorial. — Miami-Dade College has launched a scholarship program and mobile educational unit in memory of Ezekiel Urrutia, a firefighter killed in 2025. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Miami-Dade College has established the Zeke Urrutia Firefighter Scholarship to honor the life and legacy of Ezekiel Urrutia. The initiative provides financial support to students pursuing a career in firefighting.

Why it matters

Created in partnership with the Urrutia family, the scholarship aims to support the next generation of first responders while serving as a tribute to Ezekiel Urrutia. Additionally, the college has introduced a memorial van to raise public awareness about the dangers of impaired driving.

Ezekiel Urrutia was 23 years old when he died in a wrong-way crash on the Turnpike Extension in Miramar. The driver involved in the incident, 45-year-old Sunshine Perez, was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The players

Ezekiel Urrutia

He was a 23-year-old paramedic and aspiring firefighter who graduated from Florida International University.

Miami-Dade College

This institution provides educational opportunities and partnered with the Urrutia family to administer the memorial scholarship.

Sunshine Perez

She is the individual sentenced to 20 years in prison for the wrong-way crash that resulted in the death of Ezekiel Urrutia.

The details

Urrutia was a graduate of Florida International University who worked as a paramedic for a private ambulance service prior to his death. The memorial van serves as a mobile educational tool for the Miami community to emphasize the consequences of driving under the influence.

January 9, 2025: Ezekiel Urrutia was killed in a wrong-way crash.
July 2025: Sunshine Perez was sentenced for the crash.
September 11, 2025: The first scholarship recipient received the award.
October 27, 2026: An award ceremony was held for the second scholarship recipient.

Culture Shift

The scholarship program reflects a broader trend of communities turning grief into actionable support for local students. By pairing financial aid with a public safety awareness initiative, the project addresses both the educational and societal impacts of the 2025 Turnpike Extension wrong-way crash.

Aspiring firefighters in the area may apply for the scholarship to reduce their financial burden during training. Residents can also expect to see the memorial van at local events, where it will provide resources regarding impaired driving.

The takeaway

Honoring a life through educational support can help provide a tangible benefit to the community. Families affected by tragedy often find that community-based initiatives help turn personal loss into a lasting legacy for future generations.