CAA Youth Scholarship Program
Scholarship Sponsored by California Alarm Association
Dear Graduating Seniors and Proud Parents,
Welcome to the California Alarm Association (CAA) Youth Scholarship Program.
Overview
For 2026, the CAA Youth Scholarship Program will award more than $20,000 to eligible students. These scholarships are intended for children of active-duty peace officers, firefighters, and paramedics who live in California, are graduating from high school, and plan to enroll at a four-year college or university.
About CAA
The members of the California Alarm Association supply products and services that improve life safety across California communities. Our organization’s goals align closely with those of public safety professionals: enhancing safety and the overall quality of life for every Californian.
Scholarship Awards
- Eleven regional chapter scholarships — each at least $1,000.
- One state-level scholarship: $5,000 in addition to the regional scholarship amount, bringing the state award total to $6,000.
The recipient of the 2026 state scholarship will also advance to compete in the Electronic Security Association (ESA) national scholarship program, which awards first- and second-place prizes. We gratefully acknowledge ESA and our industry partner ISC West for their support of the CAA Scholarship Program, along with the backing of our 11 regional chapters.
Who We Honor
This program celebrates your achievements as you begin the next chapter of your academic journey and recognizes the important contributions of your parents and guardians—peace officers, firefighters, and paramedics—who serve our communities.
Selection Criteria
We look for well-rounded applicants who demonstrate academic excellence, commitment to community service, and participation in extracurricular activities.
Essay Requirement (Key Component)
A distinctive part of the application is an essay in which you describe how your parent’s or guardian’s public service influenced your core values, shaped your decisions, and contributed to the personal qualities that helped you succeed. The essay is heavily weighted in the evaluation and will be judged on:
- content and creativity
- adherence to the essay requirements
- grammar and punctuation
- formatting
Closing
Thank you for submitting an application. We applaud your hard work and wish you every success in your academic pursuits. Best of luck with your scholarship application!