Introducing the CONSULT Scholarship Program From SIA & SecuritySpecifiers!
About the Scholarship
Presented by SIA and SecuritySpecifiers and with the direct financial support of key donors, we are proud to announce the second annual scholarship program for rising security consultants, designers and specifiers to attend CONSULT, Oct. 9–12, 2026, in Kansas City, Missouri!
We thank our scholarship sponsors for their generous financial support of this scholarship offering. These firms have shown a commitment to the world of consulting and specifying AND to supporting the future leaders in this area.
[Want to support us and fund a scholarship? Contact us.]
Why We’re Doing This
At SIA and SecuritySpecifiers, we are intentionally focused on growing the next generation of security leaders. This is part of SIA's broader mission to attract, develop and retain a talented workforce that ensures the long-term success of our industry. We believe that attracting and retaining young talent in the areas of security system design and specifying is vital to delivering technology systems that keep people, businesses, and assets and critical infrastructure safe.
The Details
- Minimum of six (6) scholarships to be awarded
- Each scholarship provides a full ticket to CONSULT 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri, valued at $800*
- Access to all sessions, meals and events in the symposium program
- 1:1 mentorship-focused meeting with the A&E/consulting program leaders from our scholarship sponsors
- Dinner during the conference with one of our scholarship sponsors
- Bonus: All applicants will be invited to participate in SIA’s RISE community, a young professionals community designed to help you grow professionally
* Recipients or their employer will remain responsible for the recipient’s travel and hotel costs.
Criteria, Requirements & Rules
- Applicants must be age 35 or younger at the time of CONSULT symposium.
- Each candidate must be be engaged in security design or consulting full time at a security consulting or A&E firm.
- Note: This scholarship program is not designed for employees of security integrators/installing firms, product/solution manufacturers/providers, and other such firms that may be connected with specific products or manufacturers.
- Each candidate must have worked at least 12 months in the security industry (experience does not all have to be at the same firm).
- Candidates must be able to demonstrate proven experience related to design, specification writing or risk assessment leading to design.
- Evaluation is based not on experience, but rather on a young professional’s clear commitment to learning and developing his/her skills in the security design arena. This aligns with our goal to encourage young professionals to understand, investigate and pursue the career opportunities presented in the consulting field.
- Each scholarship recipient must be accompanied by a member of their firm who is a registered attendee.
- A scholarship recipient is only allowed to win the scholarship one time.
- Preference will be given to applicants from SIA member firms.
Applications are opening soon on June 22 for the 2026 CONSULT Scholarship. Stay tuned for details on this year's scholarship!
Our 2025 Scholarship awardees
The following eight young professionals received scholarships presented by SIA and SecuritySpecifiers that allowed them to attend CONSULT 2025.
Congratulations to the winners:
- Robert Demshki, technology designer, P2S
- Jordan Dolzadelli, senior technology project designer, IMEG
- Alana Hanly, security designer II, Henderson Engineers
- Brandon Kuchinski, security analyst, Faith Group
- Warren Mancera, electrical aviation associate II, RS&H
- Matthew O’Brien, security design engineer, ADRM Security
- Rodolfo Rivas, senior security design engineer, ADRM Security
- Joe Thode, physical security advisor, Business Protection Specialists
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