May 12, 2022
North Carolina is home to a number of funding institutions supporting strategies necessary for economic growth. As a result of Golden LEAF’s strategic plan, one of the five strategic priorities is to have, and be recognized for, excellence in organizational collaboration, innovation, and impact. To help address this goal, a spotlight on North Carolina funders will be included in the Golden LEAF Newsletter at the beginning of each month as a resource for our readers.
The mission of the State Employees Credit Union Foundation (SECU Foundation) is to promote local community development primarily through high impact projects in the areas of housing, education, healthcare, and human services.
SECU Foundation is a statewide charitable organization that serves all 100 counties.
SECU Public Fellows Internship Program
The program is designed to connect interested, talented undergraduate students with local leadership in order to obtain meaningful on-the-job experience with a local agency or organization while providing a unique learning opportunity to allow the SECU Public Fellows Intern to give back to his or her community.
Stipend: There is a maximum stipend or payment of $5,000 per intern.
Process: Each of the participating UNC System Schools administers the SECU Public Fellows Internship program locally and targets up to twenty in-state undergraduate students per campus.
Contact: Students interested in applying for an SECU Public Fellows Internship should contact their participating university (16 university campuses of the UNC System Schools). SECU Foundation staff does not participate in the selection or placement of interns but depends on the faculty/staff at the universities to coordinate this process.
People Helping People High School Scholarship Program
The SECU Foundation People Helping People four-year scholarship valued at $10,000 is payable at $1,250 per semester, for a total of eight consecutive semesters. Each Local Education Agency (LEA) or school district has a scholarship selection committee that selects the recipients of the scholarship for the schools within their district. Recipients must be enrolled full-time for the entire eight consecutive semesters at one of the 16 universities in the UNC system. Recipients must continue as a full-time student in good standing (maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher).
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: Deadlines will vary slightly for application at each high school; please contact the local guidance office at your public high school for application deadline. LEAs or school districts must notify SECU Foundation of the recipient winners no later than April 4, 2022
Who can apply: Available to graduating public high school seniors who are either current members of SECU or the child of a parent/ guardian who is a member of SECU at the time of application. Click here for more information on eligibility criteria.
Scholarship Use: Scholarships are for full-time undergraduate tuition and fees.
How to Apply: An application must be completed by the student. Applications may be obtained through the guidance office at the student’s public high school. Individual students may not submit information to the SECU Foundation to apply for the scholarship. Recipients are selected by a scholarship selection committee at each LEA or school district and once selected, their information is given to SECU Foundation for verification of SECU membership. Students must contact their individual school’s guidance office to express interest in being considered for the scholarship.
For more information, visit SECU Foundation – Scholarships.
People Helping People Community College Scholarship Program
SECU Foundation provides two $5,000 scholarships to students at each North Carolina community college. The two-year community college scholarship is valued at $5,000, payable at $1,250 per semester, for up to four consecutive semesters. Recipients must continue as a full-time student in good standing (maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher).
Amount: $5,000
Deadline: Deadlines may vary slightly at each community college, please contact the individual financial aid office of the community college for application deadlines. Community colleges must notify SECU Foundation of their recipients no later than August 2, 2022.
Who can apply: All applicants or full-time students who are high school graduates or have completed the General Education Development (GED) program, enrolled in an associate degree, diploma, or certificate program and meet the eligibility criteria are eligible. The eligibility criteria are sent to community college financial aid officers. Click here for more information on the eligibility criteria.
Scholarship Use: Scholarships are to be used for tuition, books, fees, course supplies and transportation.
How to Apply: Students must contact their community college Financial Aid Office to express interest in being considered for the scholarship. Recipients are selected by a scholarship selection committee at each community college. No individual applications are reviewed by the Foundation.
For more information, visit SECU Foundation – Scholarships.
Scholarship Program: SECU Bridge to Career Program
Amount: $500
Deadline: Deadlines may vary slightly at each community college, please contact the Workforce Development Continuing Education Department of the individual community college for application deadlines.
Who can apply: Students enrolled in a short-term training program that leads to an NC Workforce credential offered through Workforce Continuing Education at one of the NC Community Colleges. Targets students in one of the following groups: unemployed or underemployed, members of the NC National Guard, military veterans and their spouses, or underserved populations in a specific workforce sector or area.
Scholarship Use: Scholarship funds are to be used for registration fees, course fees, books, course supplies, credentialing tests, transportation, childcare, and any other components of the total cost of attendance
How to Apply: Interested candidates should contact the Continuing Education Department at their local NC community college for specific instructions for obtaining and submitting an application.
For more information, visit SECU Foundation – Scholarships.
What is the best way for potential applicants to learn more about the SECU Foundation and its programs? Please visit the website at http://www.ncsecufoundation.org/.