Miami-Dade College presented its second Zeke Urrutia Firefighter Scholarship on Tuesday, honoring a former Florida International University graduate who was killed in a drunk driving crash in January 2025.
The award went to Bryan Monzon, who said the money will let him focus on his studies rather than on bills. He described his family as first-generation immigrants who have not always been financially secure.
Ezekiel Urrutia, 23, had always wanted to be a firefighter. He worked as a paramedic at a private ambulance service while pursuing that goal. He was killed on Jan. 9, 2025, in a wrong-way crash on the Turnpike Extension in Miramar. The other driver, 45-year-old Sunshine Perez, was sentenced to 20 years after pleading guilty in July, according to the report.
His mother, Tiffany Urrutia, and community members worked with the college to create the scholarship for aspiring firefighters who need financial help. His father, Frank Urrutia, said the family wanted to honor their son and help others who could not otherwise afford training.
Officials also unveiled a van in Ezekiel’s name. It will be used to promote awareness about impaired driving. The first scholarship was awarded on Sept. 11, 2025.
