The SECU Foundation, funded solely by State Employees’ Credit Union’s (SECU’s) membership, has presented a $10,000 four-year college scholarship to Emily Rebekah Kirkland, a senior at Richmond Senior High School. Kirkland is the daughter of Ricky and Melissa Kirkland. This scholarship was awarded for study at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The scholarship was given based on SECU’s philosophy of “People Helping People,” recognizing the recipient’s community involvement, leadership skills, character and integrity, as well as scholastic achievement of maintaining a 2.5 or higher grade point average. The scholarship will be used for tuition and university approved educational expenses over eight consecutive semesters.

“SECU members continually demonstrate their commitment to education and to North Carolina’s youth through the annual renewal of the ‘People Helping People’ scholarship program,” said State Employees’ Credit Union’s local Advisory Board member Harold Pruitt. “It is with great pleasure that collectively we – the Credit Union membership – can continue to help so many of our State’s students further their education in North Carolina’s University System. On behalf of the SECU Foundation, I am proud to award this scholarship to Emily Rebekah Kirkland.”

The “People Helping People” High School Scholarship program is in its fifth consecutive year. To date, SECU members via the SECU Foundation have provided $17 million in scholarships for North Carolina high school seniors through the program.