Honoring Service Through Scholarship: ESA Announces 2025 Winners

The Electronic Security Association (ESA) is pleased to announce the recipient of its 2025 Youth Scholarship Program. Launched in 1996, the ESA Youth Scholarship Program was developed to support the children of first responders such as police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs. 

The first-place winner of the $20,000 scholarship is Presley Douglas. Presley is the son of Jason Douglas, a dedicated Fire Chief and EMT in Metter, Georgia. Awards are based on a combination of academic achievement, national test scores, extracurricular participation and an essay explaining “What it means to me to have my parent or guardian involved in securing our community.” 

As ESA Scholarship Chair Kelly Bond points out, “Presley is an outstanding scholarship recipient, excelling academically, working hard in agriculture and livestock, and earning recognition for his achievements both in and out of school. Presley draws inspiration from his father’s dedication as a Fire Chief. He intends to study Animal Bioscience at the University of Georgia, followed by veterinary school at UGA. His long-term goal is to open a veterinary hospital near his hometown to serve underserved rural communities in Georgia.” 

It is important for ESA to give back to the first responder community because these brave individuals risk their lives daily to protect and serve others, often without recognition, Bond points out. Supporting their children through scholarships is one way ESA honors their sacrifice and strengthens the bond between the security industry and public safety professionals. “All of the applicants are exceptional young adults,” Bond adds. “The judging of each applicant is based on their GPA, their awards and accomplishments, the essay that they submit, and their community service. These students rank in the top 5% of their class, take advanced courses, stay active in sports and clubs, hold jobs or internships, and still make time to volunteer in their communities. I believe this is because they are given such a wonderful example by their parents.” 

Presley attended the Award ceremony at ESX, held June 17th at the Cobb County Galleria and Convention Center where he thanked ESA for this honor. “I am truly honored and beyond grateful to have been selected as the national first place winner of the ESA Youth Scholarship,” he said. “This recognition means so much to me and my family, especially given the values and service that have shaped my journey.”  

The ESA Youth Scholarship Program has contributed more than $941,500 to deserving children of first responders throughout the nation. 2026 applications will open in December.    

These ESA scholarship awards are made possible by contributions from ESA and from our partners COPS Monitoring and Pye Barker Fire & Life Safety, and Guardian Alarm.

ESA’s second-place national winner, Camryn Barsh, was awarded $11,000. 

ESA also wants to recognize the following state winners:  

Wisconsin – Kavari Brann

Nevada – Sebastian Rios

Washington – Piper Rudd

New York – Christa Pomella

California – Madaya Mattos

New Jersey – Lea Walker

Colorado – Hayden Gillespie

Florida – Devlon Parker

Online donations, which will enhance these awards, are now available to the electronic security and life safety channel supporters who are interested in contributing. All donations will go directly to scholarship awards for high school seniors across the country. Supporters will be recognized on the ESA website. Donations can be made at: ESAweb.org/scholarship-donate.   

The ESA’s Youth Scholarship Program’s Volunteer Committee Members   

• Program Chairwoman: Kelly Bond, Partner at Davis Mergers and Acquisitions Group  

• Jason Etter, Owner of AVX Integrated Technologies   

• Lilianne Chaumont, President of Chaumont Law Inc.   

• Karen Smith, Sr. Director at Cultris Security Systems, Inc.   

• Mike Perdue, General Manager at Fire and Data Systems, Inc.   

• Marc Katz, Member at Law Offices of Marc P. Katz, LLC 

• John Nemerofsky, Chief Operating Officer at SAGE Integration 

• Erin Neely- Barsanti, National Account Director at DMP