The Electronic Security Association (ESA) is currently accepting applications for the 2010 Youth Scholarship Program, which will award a total of $10,000 in scholarships to children of active-duty police officers or firefighters. One student will receive $7,500 to put towards their college education; another will receive $2,500.

 

To be eligible, students must have a parent or guardian serving as a full-time police officer or fire fighter. The student must be a graduating high school senior between the ages of 15 and 20 years old and have been accepted for admission to an accredited college or university. Students will be required to write an essay titled, “What it means to me to have my parent or guardian involved in securing our community.”

 

Awards are based on a combination of academic achievement, national test scores, extracurricular participation and the essay. The deadline for submitting applications is March 31, 2010.

 

“The men and women that serve this country each and every day as police officers or firefighters are heroes and national treasures,” said Mike Miller, president of the ESA. “The work they do in protecting our communities can never be appreciated enough. This scholarship is one of the ways we can thank our deserving public safety partners.”

 

Since the ESA Youth Scholarship Program was created in 1996, the association and its affiliated chartered chapters have donated more than $300,000 in scholarship funds to students whose parents are police and fire officials.

 

For complete scholarship rules, click here.