The Security Industry Association (SIA) created this new RISE scholarship to support th​e professional development goals of young security professionals just like you. The RISE scholarship program is open to employees of SIA member companies who want to expand their professional knowledge in the areas of human resources, informatio​​n technology, marketing/sales, project management, security engineering, and risk m​anagement.

​​​Through this scholarship program, 10 scholarships worth $1,000 each will be offered. Each scholarship will allow the recipient to complete a professional development course or education program. This scholarship is a win-win -- for both you as the applicant and for your employer.

Scholarship Basics

• 10 $1,000 Scholarships for Professional Development
• Open to RISE Members Who Are Employees of SIA Member Companies
• Entry Deadline: August 25, 2017 at 5 p.m. EDT
• Awards Announced: Nov. 14, 2017

How the Scholarship Can Be Used

Recipients may choose to apply the scholarship to any of the following courses or programs:

• SIA ​​program offerings (e.g., Security Project Management training seminars, Securing New Ground conference, SIA GovSummit conference)
• Courses/programs related to information technology (IT) or cybersecurity
• Professional relevant courses or programs offered by reputable associations, colleges, universities, and private education firms
  

​Official Rules and Requirements

Deadline

A complete application, including all necessary supporting documentation (as described below), must be submitted by 5 p.m. EDT, August 25, 2017 (the “Deadline”). All application packets will be submitted electronically, without exception. Applications not submitted by the application deadline will not be considered; there will be no exceptions made to this requirement.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Applicants must meet all requirements set forth below to be eligible to be selected as a scholarship recipient

1. ​ Applicants must be RISE program members and employees of a SIA member company. (N​ot a SIA RISE program member? Start by visiting our RISE information page​ or email Bryan Miller. Unsure if your employer is a SIA member? Check our member directory or contact membership@securityindustry.org.)
2. Applicants must have 1-5 years professional experience in the security industry.
3. Applicants must be a full-time employee of a Security Industry Association (SIA) member company; must have worked for the employer a minimum of six months at the time of the Deadline and must be in good standing within the employer organization.
4. Applicants must submit a complete, signed application, together with all supporting documentation, including a Letter of Recommendation and essays, by the Deadline. The completion of the application form does not create an obligation on the part of SIA to award a scholarship to the applicant.
5. Current officers, directors and key employees of SIA, and the immediate families of SIA officers, directors and key employees, are not eligible to receive scholarships under the Program.

Application Process

Each applicant must complete the application and include supporting documentation as follows:

1. ​ Application form must be completed with accurate and up-to-date information.
2. Essay Section. The Essay will consist of four sections, to include:

1. ​​​​How the selected course(s) will en​hance or further the educational goals of the applicant;

2. How the applicant intends to use the newly gained knowledge in his or her career advancement;

3. How the applicant intends to impact the community in which the applicant resides; and

4. ​​​Where the applicant sees him/herself in five (5) years.

3. ​Letter of Recommendation. The Letter of Recommendation must be signed by the immediate supervisor of the applicant. The Letter of Recommendation should state what position the applicant fulfills within the employer organization including their responsibilities and why SIA should make a financial commitment to the applicant.

Scholarship Selection Committee

The Scholarship Selection Committee (the “Committee”) will consist of volunteers from SIA member companies. The Committee will consist of six (6) members, who will serve for staggered terms. Committee members are volunteers and perform their duties without compensation, financial or otherwise. If the Committee is reviewing the application of an applicant who is an employee of the Committee member’s company, or if the Committee member is otherwise conflicted with respect to the applicant, the Committee member shall recuse him or herself from all deliberation and voting regarding the applicant’s application.

​Selection Process

1. Only those applicants who meet the eligibility criteria and submit their completed application and supporting documentation on or before the Deadline (“qualified applications”) will be considered in the selection process.
2. It is the applicant’s responsibility to submit a complete and signed application, along with all the supporting documentation, which must be received on or before the Deadline. The Scholarship Selection Committee accepts no responsibility for incomplete applications, applications not in proper form, lost applications or any other submission not in compliance with these requirements or the instructions provided with the application.
3. The Scholarship Selection Committee shall review each application and award points based on the Applicant Grading Criteria set forth below. As noted above, those Committee members with a conflict with respect to any applicant shall not participate in the review or grading of that applicant’s application and supporting materials.
4. The scholarship award will be based on the Committee’s scores of the overall quality of the application and the scholarship essays. The ten applications receiving the highest scores shall be awarded scholarships. ​​​ In the case of a tie, the SIA CEO will make the final decision.​
5. Scholarship selection shall be made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other category protected by federal, state or local law. Conversely, an applicant will not be selected solely based on one or more of the categories identified above.
6. The decision of the Scholarship Selection Committee is final and not subject to review.
7. All deliberations and decisions of the Scholarship Selection Committee shall be recorded in Committee meeting minutes, which shall be drafted contemporaneously with the review and decisions of the Committee.

Applicant Grading Criteria

The following applica​nt grading criteria will be followed by members of the Scholarship Selection Committee in reviewing applications and determining those applicants that will be grantedscholarships:​​

Award Date​

The Scholarship Selection Committee, as defined below, will determine the ten (10) scholarship recipients by the award date, November 14, 2017 (the “Award Date”). All applicants will be notified via email, regardless if selected as a recipient or not, by the Award Date regarding the status of their scholarship application.

Award Redemption

Recipients must enroll in the approved course within 12 months of being awarded scholarship and must coordinate with SIA for course fee payment. SIA will pay for course/program enrollment on recipient’s behalf up to the $1,000 value of the scholarship. If course/program costs more than $1,000, recipient is responsible for the balance. If cost of course/program is less than $1,000 scholarship award, recipient will have a credit to use on related professional development within a 12-month period.

​The scholarship money covers course entry fees or program attendance fees, but will not cover study materials, travel costs or any other items related to the course.​