The Electronic Security Association (ESA) recently awarded $20,000 in scholarships to students from Michigan, Arizona, California and Ohio as part of the association’s annual Youth Scholarship Program.

This year, with Vivint’s sponsorship of $10,000, ESA was able to increase the prize amounts and expand the awards to include third and fourth place scholarship winners. Cameron Hein of Pinckney, Mich. received top honors with a first place scholarship of $10,000; Courtney DuBois of Chandler, Ariz., won $5,000 for second place; Allison Gordon of Carlsbad, Calif. took home the third place $3,500 scholarship; and Ellen Bley of North Bend, Ohio was awarded a $1,500 scholarship for fourth place.

Since the ESA Youth Scholarship Program was created in 1996, the association and its affiliated chartered chapters have donated more than $390,000 in scholarship funds to children of police officers and firefighters.

“The men and women who serve this country each and every day as police officers or firefighters are heroes and national treasures,” said ESA president John Knox. “The work they do in protecting our communities can never be appreciated enough. Awarding scholarships to these fine students is one of the ways we can thank our deserving public safety partners.”

This year’s top-prize winner will graduate as valedictorian at Pinckney Community High School in Pinckney, Mich. with a 4.0 GPA. He has been active in the Boy Scouts since 2000 and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout last summer. Hein also serves as a member of the Pinckney marching band and wind ensemble as well as a varsity athlete on the tennis and swimming teams. In addition, Hein dedicates his time to his community by coaching a youth basketball team. This fall, he will attend University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich. to study engineering.

Hein’s father is a firefighter at Ann Arbor Fire Department. As part of their entries, each applicant was required to write an essay entitled, “What it means to me to have my parent or guardian involved in securing our community.” Hein wrote about his father’s dedication and passion for his career and for serving the public.
Courtney DuBois of Chandler, Ariz. won first place in the Arizona Alarm Association Youth Scholarship Program and was awarded the second place prize in ESA’s national scholarship program for her scholastic achievements, essay and community involvement.

DuBois will graduate in the top two percent of her class from Hamilton High School and is a distinguished leader in her community serving as president of the Hamilton High School National Honor Society and spending her free time working with disabled children through equine therapy.

Her father, Dan DuBois, is a fire marshal at the Gilbert Fire Department. In her application essay, Courtney said “[My father’s] dedication and work within the community has molded and evolved my character.” This fall, Courtney will attend Arizona State University where she will study biomedical engineering.

Allison Gordon, the third place winner, is from Carlsbad, Calif. As a student at Carlsbad High School, Gordon is involved in the Future Voters of America and the National Honors Society. Her father, Mark Gordon, is a firefighter at the Miramar Fire Department. Gordon will continue her education at the University of California, Berkeley later this year.

Ellen Bley of North Bend, Ohio is the fourth-place scholarship winner. She will graduate from Mother of Mercy High School with a 4.39 GPA. For the past several years, Bley has been a member the National Honor Society and an active volunteer within her community. Timothy Bley, Ellen’s father, is a law enforcement officer at the Cincinnati Police Department. Ellen will attend the University of Notre Dame this fall.