The Security Industry Association (SIA) has named 12 recipients of its 2026 Women in Security Forum (WISF) Scholarship, awarding each honoree $10,000 to support continuing education and professional development.

Developed by the SIA Women in Security Forum, the scholarship program aims to expand educational opportunities and promote advancement for a broad range of individuals in the security industry. The program is open to employees of SIA member companies and SIA student members.

Scholarship funds can be applied toward continuing education and professional development courses, conferences, webinars, SIA program offerings, student loan repayment and other educational or academic pursuits.

The 2026 scholarship recipients are:

• Maria Jose Arley Mora, development delivery manager, Johnson Controls

• Katherine Bergersen, student, University of Virginia

• Brittany Board, director of partnerships, PSA

• Lauren Duell, instructional designer I, dormakaba

• Cassandra Fitzgerald, senior Atlassian administrator, Allegion

• Lindsey Houston, digital marketing communications manager, dormakaba Americas

• Julieta Pérez, CEO, Seguridad Privada Sekuri

• Gabrielle Pike, corporate instructional design and media manager, CBX Solutions

• Shreya Poojary, senior specification consultant I, Allegion India

• Ourania Rahman, student, Fairleigh Dickinson University

• Maria Sanchez, electronic security application engineer I, Johnson Controls

• Rosario Triana, inside sales representative, HID

“The success of this year’s scholarship program is a testament to what can be achieved when our industry comes together to invest in future leaders. We were inspired by the remarkable group of applicants and honored to award scholarships to a record number of recipients this year,” said Tia Eskandari, SIA WISF vice chair, co-chair of the WISF AmplifiHER Subcommittee and senior director of national service at Allied Universal.

Eskandari congratulated the recipients and recognized the volunteers whose fundraising efforts and sponsors' contributions helped support the program. She also thanked SIA for its leadership and continued commitment to the scholarship.

Tanya Turner, co-chair of the SIA WISF AmplifiHER Subcommittee and vice president of human resources at Salto, said the program provides opportunities for women to expand their knowledge, advance their careers and strengthen their leadership capabilities.

Turner also recognized the scholarship committee for its work evaluating applicants and thanked the sponsors and volunteers supporting women's professional development in the security industry.

Sandy Jones Award and Scholarship Support

In addition to the 12 scholarships, SIA named Maria Andrea Sanchez Cifuentes as the recipient of the Sandy Jones Award. Presented annually to the top-scoring scholarship applicant, the distinction honors industry veteran and honorary SIA member Sandra (Sandy) Jones.

The scholarship program is supported through donations from SIA members and member companies. The 2026 donors include:

• Diamond Level: Convergint and Pavion

• Emerald Level: Altronix and M.C. Dean

• Ruby Level: Axis Communications, Brivo, Clear Cloud, The CMOOR Group, GSA Schedules Inc., HID, Johnson Controls, Physec Systems, Preferred Technologies, PSA, SAGE Integration, Salto, Security Specifiers, Windy City Wire and Zenitel

• Sapphire Level: Defined Marketing, Fracktional Solutions and Vector Firm

SIA also recognized the members of the WISF AmplifiHER Subcommittee who contributed their time and expertise to fundraising and scholarship evaluations. The committee was co-chaired by Eskandari and Turner, with additional members Rebecca Bayne of Bayne Consulting & Search; Kristen Cooper of CONSULT at Security Specifiers; Lynn de Séve of GSA Schedules; Lori Hudnall of SAGE Integration; Stephanie Mayes of Mead & Hunt; Lyndell Kline of Boon Edam; Julie Rolles of The CMOOR Group; Lisa Sobek of Allegion and Gannon Switzer of Vector Firm.

Supporting Women in the Security Industry

The WISF Scholarship is one of several initiatives offered by the SIA Women in Security Forum to support women's professional development and advancement.

Other programs include the SIA Progress Award, which recognizes individuals who advance opportunities for women in the security industry, and the annual Power 100 initiative, which highlights 100 women serving as role models, leaders, innovators and influencers in global security.

The forum also co-leads the Security LeadHER conference in partnership with ASIS International and supports community volunteer efforts, collaborative projects with organizations focused on empowering women in security and technology, thought leadership and speaking opportunities, networking and professional growth events.

Participation in the SIA Women in Security Forum is open to all employees of SIA member companies.

More information about the scholarship and its 2026 recipients is available on the SIA Women in Security Forum Scholarship page.