Two receive SECU scholarships

Two area students were recently chosen to receive the State Employees’ Credit Union Scholarship to attend Beaufort County Community College this year. Selected were Gwendolyn Allen and Destiny Tyson.

Allen, of Plymouth, is pursuing an associate’s degree in general education at BCCC and hopes to study nursing at the college. She holds a Pharmacy Technician Certification as well as a Nurses Aid Certification. She is currently employed at Bertie Correctional Institution as a correctional sergeant. She hopes to either continue her work with the N.C. Department of Correction or work in an area hospital after graduating from BCCC.

“My goal is to simply work in an environment where I am able to help people and know that somehow I made a difference in their lives,” she said. “I know that with this scholarship award, I will be able to complete my studies and my dream will become a reality.”

Tyson, of Washington, is a student in BCCC’s Associate Degree Nursing Program. A graduate of Washington High School, she hopes to work in an area hospital and continue her education after completing her studies at BCCC.

The scholarships for the BCCC students are two of 116 two-year scholarships – two for each of the 58 community colleges statewide – given by the State Employees’ Credit Union Foundation each year.

The SECU Foundation is the charitable, non-profit arm of the State Employees’ Credit Union established to identify and address community issues that are beyond the normal scope of SECU itself. Its mission is to promote local community development primarily through projects in the areas of education, health and human services.

Foundation projects are initiated through local SECU branch advisory boards and approved by the Foundation Board.

Money to fund the scholarships comes from credit union members. The SECU has agreed to temporarily assign $1.00 of the per month maintenance fee that all members pay on their checking accounts to the foundation.

“The SECU Foundation wants to support projects that help people and this is the perfect choice for our first effort,” said Tom King, chairman of the SECU Foundation Board. King is a former member of the State Board of Community Colleges. The SECU Foundation wants “to help student who fall between the cracks – those who need help to finish school but aren’t eligible for other programs.”