Delaware Technical Community College: Scholarship Honors Volunteer Fire Company Member Who Died In The Line Of Duty

Press release from the Delaware Technical Community College:

2021-05-27

Delaware Technical Community College will administer a $25,000 scholarship from the Carl M. Freeman Foundation and the Selbyville Volunteer Fire Company in memory of Laura Madara, a volunteer first-responder who died in the line of duty. The Laura Madara First Responder Endowed Scholarship will benefit Sussex County women interested in becoming career or volunteer first-responders.

“Throughout her life, Laura Madara was a shining example of what it means to serve your community,” said Michelle Freeman, chairwoman and president of the Carl M. Freeman Foundation. “We hope this scholarship will leave a lasting legacy of what it means to help others and give Sussex County women the opportunity to continue to serve.”

Madara, a member of the Selbyville Volunteer Fire Company, died while responding to a vehicle accident on April 9. She was a fire police officer and president of the Ladies Auxiliary. In addition, she worked with Delaware State Parks for almost 30 years as an enforcement officer and assistant park superintendent at several state parks.

“Laura had a passion for the state of Delaware and our parks,” her father, Kenneth Madara, said. “We love the idea of creating a lasting memory of Laura through the ability to help women follow in her footsteps and work to help our citizens and visitors enjoy all that Delaware has to offer.”

This new scholarship was announced this month at the Bethany-Fenwick Chamber of Commerce 2021 Joshua M. Freeman Valor Awards. It will benefit female students in the emergency medical technician, criminal justice, homeland security and emergency management, and law enforcement option programs at Delaware Tech.

Selbyville Volunteer Fire Company President Matt Sliwa said his organization is honored to contribute toward the scholarship in Madara’s name.

“When presented with the opportunity to partner with the Carl M. Freeman Foundation on this scholarship, our members jumped at the idea,” he said. “We are honored to help create a lasting legacy of Laura and the work she did for our great state by creating this endowed scholarship to help women start and further their careers in service to others.”

This press release was produced by the Delaware Technical Community College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.