RALEIGH, N.C., Feb. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In keeping with SECU Foundation’s longstanding commitment to education, the members of State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) have once again renewed their funding for the “People Helping People®” High School and Community College scholarship programs, allocating nearly $5 million toward the educational goals of college-bound students for the 2018 award year. Since 2004, SECU members have provided over $50 million in scholarship funding for North Carolina students!
The high school program provides a four-year scholarship to eligible graduating public high school seniors who are either members of the Credit Union or eligible for membership through a parent or guardian. The $10,000 scholarship is awarded to graduating seniors from regular public high schools and three charter high schools in North Carolina who will be attending one of the 16 constituent campuses of the University of North Carolina System. SECU Foundation’s two-year scholarship program provides each of the 58 community colleges in the North Carolina Community College System with two $5,000 scholarships to help students achieve academic success.
Students interested in applying should contact his or her high school guidance counselor or community college financial aid office. Recipients are selected by the scholarship selection committee of the school district or community college based on a candidate’s embodiment of the credit union philosophy of “People Helping People,” recognizing leadership, excellence of character, integrity, and community involvement, along with an overall academic grade point average of 2.5 or higher.
Forestview High School graduate Meredith Andrews was the recipient of a $10,000 scholarship in 2017. In her note of thanks to SECU members she said, “I am honored to be awarded the ‘People Helping People’ Scholarship. My plans are to acquire a higher level of education at Appalachian State University, double majoring in Public Relations and Advertising. This grant has helped alleviate the financial burden of college and I’m extremely grateful to the SECU Foundation for helping me pursue a college degree!”
About SECU and the SECU Foundation
A not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by its members, SECU has been providing employees of the State of North Carolina and their families with consumer financial services for over 80 years. The Credit Union also offers a diversified line of financial advisory services including retirement and education planning, tax preparation, insurance, trust and estate planning services, and investments through its partners and affiliated entities. SECU serves over 2.25 million members through 263 branch offices, nearly 1,100 ATMs, 24/7 Member Services via phone and a website, www.ncsecu.org. The SECU Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization funded by the contributions of SECU members, promotes local community development in North Carolina primarily through high impact projects in the areas of housing, education, healthcare and human services. Since 2004, SECU Foundation has made a collective financial commitment of more than $130 million for initiatives to benefit North Carolinians statewide.
Contact: Jama Dagenhart, Executive Director
Office: 919-839-5562 | secufoundation@ncsecu.org