SIA RISE Scholarships

SCHOLARSHIP BASICS

• $3,000 scholarships for continuing education, professional development, and student loan repayment.
• Open to SIA student members and RISE members who are employees of SIA member companies in North America.

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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/events related to information technology (IT), physical security, or cybersecurity
• Relevant courses or professional development programs offered by reputable associations, colleges, universities and private education firms related to your role and career in the security industry.
• Repayment of student loans

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​Official Rules and Requirements

A complete application, including all necessary supporting documentation (as described below), must be submitted by 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 considered eligible as a scholarship recipient.

1. Each applicant must be either 1) a SIA student member or 2) a RISE program member and an employee of a SIA member company. (Not a RISE member yet? Start by visiting our RISE information page or emailing Katie Greatti. Unsure if your employer is a SIA member? Check our member directory or contact membership@securityindustry.org.)
2. Each applicant must have at least 1 year of professional experience in the security industry.
3. Each applicant must be a full-time employee of a SIA member company or be a SIA student member; have worked for the employer a minimum of six months at the time of the deadline and be in good standing within the employer organization.
4. Applicants must submit a complete, signed application, together with all supporting documentation, including essays and 1-2 references, 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.

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Application Process

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

1. The application form, completed with accurate and up-to-date information.
2. An essay answering the following questions:
   • Please write a personal statement on why you chose to apply for the RISE scholarship, how the money earned would be utilized, and how this scholarship will make a lasting impact on the future of your career in the security industry? (250 words max)
   • What do you think companies can do to embrace diversity and attract/retain diverse talent? (250 words max)
   • What is your greatest professional accomplishment thus far? What sort of impact do you hope to make on the security industry in the next 5-10 years? (250 words max)
   • What is the best advice you’ve received and how have you incorporated it into your personal and/or professional life? (250 words max)
   • What separates you from other applicants? What makes you stand out from other scholarship applicants? (250 words max)
3. At least one professional reference (preferably two). Please provide the name, title, email address, and phone number for each reference.

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Scholarship Selection Committee

The Scholarship Selection Committee (the “Committee”) will consist of volunteers from the SIA RISE committee. 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.

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​Selection Process

1. Only those applicants who meet the eligibility criteria and submit their completed applications 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 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 Committee shall review each application and award points based on the applicant grading criteria set forth below. As noted above, a committee member 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 five 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 Committee is final and not subject to review.

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Applicant Grading Criteria

The following applicant grading criteria will be followed by members of the Committee in reviewing applications and determining those applicants that will be granted scholarships:

Fulfilled all eligibility requirements	Up to 5 points
References	Up to 20 points
Essays	Up to 75 points (Each question is worth 15 points)
	Up to 100 points

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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. The expected award date is in November 2023.

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IMPORTANT DATES

Applications for the SIA RISE Scholarship opens Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. The application closes Friday, Sept. 29, 2023.

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Award Redemption

Each recipient must enroll in the approved course within 12 months of being awarded the scholarship and coordinate with SIA for course fee payment. SIA will reimburse awardees for the course/program enrollment up to the $3,000 value of the scholarship. If the course/program costs more than $3,000, the recipient is responsible for the balance. If the cost of the course/program is less than the $3,000 scholarship award, the 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.