State Employees’ Credit Union Awards SECU Scholarships to 19 RCC Students

State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) is making a real difference for 19 students at Rockingham Community College (RCC). These scholarships help ease the burden of college costs, and they reward students for their hard work and service. We explore how SECU operates its scholarship programs, how RCC fits into that picture, and why this year’s awards carry special meaning.

About the SECU Foundation and Scholarship Program

The SECU Foundation is the charitable arm of the State Employees’ Credit Union. It was created to promote the credit union’s motto of “People Helping People”. One main program is the People Helping People Scholarship. It gives four-year university scholarships, mostly targeted to high school students heading to one of North Carolina’s 16 UNC System schools.

For community college students, SECU also funds two-year scholarships, 116 of them statewide, with amounts up to $5,000 each. In addition, SECU has a “Bridge to Career” program. It helps students and adult learners get short­-term credentials to prepare for jobs. The Foundation gives $500 scholarships under that program across all 58 community colleges in North Carolina.

To qualify, students typically are judged on leadership, character, community involvement, and academic standing. SECU wants to support not just strong grades, but good citizens.

Rockingham Community College (RCC) is known for serving students in a largely rural region, helping them get skills, certificates, or degrees at a lower cost. SECU’s scholarship programs align well with RCC’s mission to make education accessible.

RCC has already advertised its partnership with SECU. They note that the funding offers $500 scholarships for certain eligible students.

This kind of support matters. Many RCC students juggle work, family, and school. When we reduce one burden, tuition or books, students can focus more on their studies. The SECU-RCC partnership helps with that.

Over time, this link can become stronger: SECU sees a local need, RCC knows the local students. Together we can bridge gaps.

Scholarship Details and Significance

This year, SECU has chosen 19 RCC students as scholarship recipients. While I could not find a public announcement for exactly “19 RCC students,” the pattern matches SECU’s broader strategy of supporting multiple students per community college.

Let’s break down how the scholarship works in the context of SECU’s programs:

• For community college awards, SECU gives two scholarships per college per year. Each is worth up to $5,000 total (paid in parts across semesters) over two years.
• Under the “Bridge to Career” program, up to 30 students per college may earn $500 awards to support short-term job credentials.
• For university-level (four-year) support, the People Helping People scholarship gives $10,000 total, paid as $1,250 per semester over eight consecutive semesters.

So these RCC students likely come from one or more of these SECU programs. The total dollar amount helps with tuition, fees, and related expenses.

The fact that SECU is awarding 19 students signals a strong commitment. It shows SECU’s confidence in RCC’s student body and in the value of community college education.

These awards also reflect SECU’s inclusive values: the selection process does not discriminate by race, sex, or religion.

Quotes and Institutional Reactions

While I did not find direct quotes from the 19 RCC students in a public source, I located some relevant remarks in similar SECU community college contexts that capture the spirit.

At Randolph Community College, one student said:

“This moment means more than I can express. I’m deeply grateful to the SECU Foundation for giving me an opportunity beyond anything I ever imagined.”

At Richmond Community College (a different RCC), SECU awarded Continuing Education Scholarships. There, Dr. Dale McInnis, president of RCC, said the program helps “assist North Carolina’s unemployed and underemployed citizens with career training and marketable job skills.”

We can imagine similar gratitude and hope among the RCC students who won this year’s awards. They likely see this as validation of their drive and service, and a stepping stone to their goals.

Administrators at RCC might point out how this funding helps strengthen enrollment and student retention. For SECU, awarding scholarships affirms its mission to uplift communities.

Broader Educational and Community Impact

SECU’s scholarship work is part of a larger strategy. The Foundation supports not only education, but also housing, health, human services, and disaster relief. By spreading scholarship dollars across all 100 counties in North Carolina, SECU brings opportunity to places that often lack private funding.

Over time, that leads to more graduates, better local workforce skills, and stronger local economies. Students who stay in their regions after college can give back. It’s also a model for how credit unions or financial institutions can reinvest in their communities. SECU is owned by its members; much of its giving comes from them.

By combining public need and private philanthropy, we see a sustainable way to support education and growth.

Conclusion

The decision by State Employees’ Credit Union to award SECU scholarships to 19 RCC students is more than a financial gift. It is a vote of confidence. It says: We believe in you, your community, and the value of education. Through the SECU Foundation’s scholarship programs, more students can chase degrees, certificates, and career goals without being held back by costs. The partnership between SECU and RCC shows how local action can combine with broader programs to make a real difference.

As we look ahead, we hope to see more such awards, deeper engagement, and many success stories from the students who benefit. Their lives, their communities, and all of North Carolina are stronger when people help people.

Disclaimer:

This content is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice. Always conduct your research.