The State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) Foundation has provided scholarships to two Wayne Community College students.
Karen Taft and Titus Dezern are recipients of $5,000 “People Helping People” scholarships which are renewable for two consecutive years.
Taft, a Walstonburg resident, is working toward a degree in Criminal Justice.
Dezern is majoring in Accounting and Finance. He lives in Fremont.
“Working in the Financial Aid Office, I know too well the difference this scholarship can make,” said WCC Financial Aid and Veteran Services Director Katrina Lee.
SECU members provide two $5,000 “People Helping People” Scholarships annually to each of the 58 community colleges in North Carolina through the SECU Foundation scholarship program. Since 2004, over $10 million has been awarded to help the State’s community college students further their education.
Based on the Credit Union philosophy of “People Helping People®,” these scholarships recognize the recipient’s leadership, character and integrity, community involvement, and scholastic achievement. Scholarship funds will be applied to tuition and other expenses associated with their community college education over four consecutive semesters.
“Scholarships play an important role in making college more accessible and affordable and we are thrilled that the Foundation’s two-year scholarship continues to expand opportunities for students to obtain a degree,” SECU Foundation Executive Director Jama Campbell commented.
“Together, with North Carolina’s excellent community college system, we are building a solid foundation for supporting students in their academic success. On behalf of SECU Foundation, we offer our congratulations and best wishes to Karen Taft and Titus Dezern,” Campbell said.
About SECU and 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 85 years. SECU is the second largest credit union in the United States with $53 billion in assets and serves over 2.7 million members through 273 branch offices, over 1,100 ATMs, 24/7 member services via phone, www.ncsecu.org and a mobile app.
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 over $235 million for initiatives to benefit North Carolinians statewide.
About Wayne Community College
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves 10,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 165 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.