Our colleague, James “Jimmy” Willis, was a true embodiment of Convergint’s Values & Beliefs. From his strong work ethic to his sense of humor and commitment to his community – Jimmy was a wonderful colleague and friend.

Having grown up just outside of Houston, Texas, Jimmy attended Pearland High School and played the Alto Saxophone in the Pearland Marching Band. He was a member of Boy Scout Troop 464, where he earned the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout, which greatly shaped his future and loyalty to family, friends, and workplace.

Jimmy loved adventure, travel, and the outdoors. He was known for his zest for life, zany antics, bright smile, generosity, and he gave the biggest, most heartfelt hugs ever.

He was hardworking. His first job was at a lawn mowing service with fellow scout and friend Brady Mercer. He then went on to work at Radio Shack, Brinks, and G-4S, where he developed his passion for the security industry and technology. He was the Lead Technician at Convergint in Houston, TX.

On June 16, 2020, Jimmy lost his battle with the COVID-19 virus. In celebration of his life, we are honored to establish the James Willis Scholarship in his name, which will provide educational financial grants to the children of deserving Convergint colleagues.

The Convergint Cares Foundation has established the James Willis Scholarship to assist children of Convergint colleagues who plan on continuing their education through 2/4-year college or vocational school programs. This program is administered by International Scholarship and Tuition Services (ISTS), a third-party designer and manager of scholarship, tuition assistance, and other education support programs. 

Currently, the James Willis Scholarship is only accepting applications for scholarships in the United States. 

For the 2025 – 2026 academic year, the James Willis Scholarship will be awarding the following scholarships for continued education: 

General Scholarship:

Up to 20 General Scholarship recipients will receive an award in the amount of $2,500. 

STEM Scholarship:

2 STEM Scholarship recipients will receive an award in the amount of $5,000. 

Awards are for undergraduate studies only and are not automatically renewable. It is encouraged to reapply if you still meet the eligibility. 

Scholarship recipients are selected based on academic record, demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities, work experience, career and educational aspirations and goals, and unusual personal or family circumstances. Lastly, financial need (as calculated by ISTS) must be demonstrated for the student to receive an award. 

Not all applicants to the program will be selected as recipients, and students may reapply each year if they continue to meet eligibility requirements. 

Selection of recipients is made by ISTS. In no instance does any officer or colleague of Convergint Technologies or the Convergint Cares Foundation play a part in the selection. All applicants agree to accept the decision as final. 

For the 2025-26 academic year, all applicants with Complete applications will be notified of the selection results in June. 

General Scholarship:

To apply for the James Willis Scholarship, you must:

• Be the dependent child of a full-time colleague of Convergint (or a U.S. subsidiary) who has been employed for at least twelve months as of the application deadline.
• Be enrolled or plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate studies for the 2025-26 academic year at an accredited U.S. institution (including two-year and four-year colleges/universities and vocational/trade schools).

STEM Scholarship:

The James Willis Scholarship is offering a limited number of scholarship awards for applicants who aspire to earn a degree and pursue a career in one of the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics). To be eligible for these awards, in addition to meeting the eligibility criteria above, you must:

• Be pursuing a major or degree in one of the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics).
• Provide a personal statement describing a time when you faced a significant challenge in your academic or personal life and explain how you overcame it. How did this experience influence your passion for STEM and your future goals in the field?

Application deadline is May 16th, 2025 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time Zone