SILVER SPRING, Md.—The Security Industry Association (SIA) is now accepting applications for three key 2026 scholarship programs: the SIA RISE Scholarship, SIA Veterans in Security Scholarship and Women in Security Forum Scholarship.
These initiatives “offer funds to security industry professionals, as well as students, to help them further their professional development and educational goals,” according to the association announcement.
“SIA’s RISE, Veterans in Security and Women in Security Forum scholarships—presented by three vibrant SIA member communities—are excellent opportunities to support your professional development, learning and growth,” says SIA chief executive officer Don Erickson in the association announcement.
“SIA is proud to build on our commitment to fostering the next-generation security workforce and, with more scholarships this year than ever before, we look forward to helping our industry’s emerging leaders, young professionals, women and military veterans achieve their professional and educational goals,” he says.
What Are the Security Industry Association Scholarships?
The SIA RISE Scholarship, presented by SIA’s RISE community, offers $3,000 scholarships to create the education and career development goals of young security professionals, student members and those new to the industry.
The scholarship—open to SIA student members and RISE members who are employees of SIA member companies worldwide— is intended to expand recipients’ professional knowledge in the areas of business, human resources, information technology, marketing/sales, project management, security engineering and risk management.
Scholarship funds can be used toward continuing education, student loan repayment and professional development programs such as training and certifications.
In 2026, select honorees will receive three special RISE Scholarships: the Joey Comunale Scholarship, the Dalal Family Scholarship and the Pierre Trapanese Scholarship.
New in 2026, the SIA Veterans Security Scholarship program is “dedicated to advancing the education and careers of military veterans,” the association announcement says.
This program, presented by the SIA Veterans in Security community, will award multiple scholarships of up to $5,000 each to support awardees in scholarly and vocational pursuits, including college degrees, certificate programs and professional learning and development, related to security, as well as student loan repayment for programs related to the industry.
The Veterans in Security Scholarship is open to U.S. military veterans who are currently associated with SIA member companies and/or currently serving members of the U.S. military who are planning to transition to private-sector careers in security.
The SIA Women in Security Forum Scholarship was “created to further educational opportunities for the widest spectrum of people and empower all to join the SIA Women in Security Forum (WISF) and thrive in the security industry,” according to the SIA announcement.
Through this scholarship—open to all SIA members and student members—each recipient will be awarded $7,500 to use toward approved degree programs, continuing education, repayment of student loans and professional development programs (e.g. training courses, certifications and conferences).
Each year, SIA awards the top-scoring WISF scholarship applicant with the Sandy Jones Award, a special scholarship distinction named for industry veteran and longtime SIA member Sandra (Sandy) Jones.
Applications for the 2026 SIA scholarship programs are due Friday, Sept. 11.
