Security Industry Association Opens Applications for Four 2026 Scholarship Award Programs
The Security Industry Association (SIA) is now accepting applications for four key 2026 SIA recognition programs: the 25 on the RISE Awards, Denis R. Hébert Identity Management Scholarship, James Rothstein Business Scholarship and SIA–SecuritySpecifiers Young Consultants Scholarship. These initiatives offer funds to security industry professionals, as well as students, to help them further their professional development and educational goals.
The 25 on the RISE award program, presented by SIA’s RISE community for young professionals and those new to the security industry, recognizes 25 new and emerging security leaders each year for their impactful contributions to advancing the security industry. SIA 25 on the RISE awardees represent the industry’s leaders of today and tomorrow who influence their companies, their communities and the industry at large in terms of diversity, impact and innovation. Each nominee must be under 40 or have fewer than two years of industry experience and must work for a company that directly relates to the security industry. Honorees will receive funding to attend the 2026 Securing New Ground (SNG) conference and be recognized at the event.
The Denis R. Hébert Identity Management Scholarship program is named after Denis Hébert, a security industry leader who served as SIA’s board of directors chair from 2016 to 2018 and has served as a key investor for global cutting-edge security brands. The scholarship program annually awards two $5,000 scholarships to young professionals who are current employees of SIA member companies to help further their education in the field of identity management. Award recipients are nominated by industry peers and selected by the SIA Learning and Development Committee. The scholarship funds must be used towards post-secondary education programs, including training courses, accredited college courses, certifications or other valid credentialing programs related to the field of identity management.
The James Rothstein Business Scholarship is designed to support emerging professionals and students in the security industry by providing financial assistance to attend the SNG conference. This competitive scholarship program — named for James Rothstein, president of Sequel LV and a past member of SIA’s board of directors who served as chair from 2022 to 2024 — covers SNG conference passes and travel expenses, enabling recipients to gain invaluable business insights, network with industry leaders and enhance their professional development at the security industry’s executive conference. Each applicant must be either 1) a SIA student member or 2) a member of the SIA RISE community and an employee of a SIA member company.
The SIA–SecuritySpecifiers Young Consultants Scholarship, presented by SIA and SecuritySpecifiers and with the direct financial support of key donors, awards funds to rising security consultants, designers and specifiers to attend CONSULT. This program offers each honoree a full ticket to CONSULT; access to all sessions, meals and events in the symposium program; a mentorship-focused meeting with architecture and engineering/consulting program leaders from our scholarship sponsors, dinner during the conference with one of our sponsors and the opportunity to participate in SIA’s RISE community. Applicants must be age 35 or younger at the time of CONSULT, be engaged in security design or consulting full-time at a security consulting or A&E firm and have worked at least 12 months in the security industry.
“SIA is proud to present this year’s 25 on the RISE Awards and two scholarships established in the names of past two SIA Chairs who advanced the association’s value proposition: the Denis R. Hébert Identity Management Scholarship, James Rothstein Business Scholarship. We’re also pleased to again present the SIA–SecuritySpecifiers Young Consultants Scholarship. These are four impactful opportunities for career development, professional growth and learning,” said Don Erickson, CEO, SIA. “SIA is intentionally focused on growing the next generation of leaders, and these programs are part of our broader mission to attract, develop and retain a talented workforce that ensures the long-term success of our industry.”
Applications for these scholarship programs are due Friday, July 31.
Looking for quick answers on security topics? Try Ask SDM, our new smart AI search tool. Ask SDM →
Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!
