Pennsauken residents Jenna Madden and Vanessa Munoz have both been named recipients of $1,500 scholarships from the Camden County Hero Scholarship Fund.
The 2016 Scholarship Program supported six $1,500 scholarships to graduating high school seniors who have a parent actively serving, or they themselves are actively serving Camden County in a branch of police/law enforcement, fire service (paid and volunteer), or emergency medical service. Two scholarships were awarded in each branch of service.
The funds for these endeavors are obtained from spirited individuals and businesses that donate in appreciation of the services of the public safety personnel of Camden County.
Jenna Madden, who lives in the Meadowbrook section of town, earned her scholarship in the EMS category. Jenna’s father is an EMT with Pennsauken EMS. She is a graduate of Pennsauken High School and will be continuing her education in criminal justice.
“Winning the scholarship means the world to me,” says Madden. “It will help me further my education so I can be who I want to be.”
Vanessa Munoz lives in the Cooper River section of Pennsauken. Her father is a firefighter with Camden City Fire Department, allowing her the opportunity to earn an award in the Fire Service category. She is a graduate of Camden County Technical School and plans to study secondary education.
“It’s an honor. I just know it’s going to be a great help,” says Munoz. “It’s just a privilege to be a recognized by the Camden County Hero Scholarship Fund.”
The Camden County Hero Scholarship Fund is a non-profit organization that provides financial and educational assistance to the families of Camden County’s police, fire and EMS personnel killed, or totally and permanently disabled in the line of duty. It is their policy to offer an immediate financial gift to the family within 48 hours of an incident, and once any surviving children reach college age, the Hero Scholarship program allows for them to attend any school of their choice and they will pay up to the highest New Jersey state tuition at their time of enrollment.
This year the Camden County Hero Scholarship Fund is celebrating its 50th anniversary! They are honored to have helped nearly 60 children obtain a college/secondary education because of their father’s sacrifices. The Hero Scholarship has paid out nearly $500,000 since its inception for these death/disability scholarships.
The annual scholarship program for graduating high school seniors was created in 1992 and over the years, the Hero Scholarship has awarded $217,500 in scholarships.
For more information on the Fund, or to see how you can help them to keep their promises to the children of our heroes, visit www.camdencountyhero.com.
