SECU Scholarship Eligibility Criteria

SECU Foundation
2026 People Helping People Scholarship – Eligibility
Criteria
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SECU Foundation established the People Helping People four-year scholarship program to help North
Carolina public high school students attend college. SECU Foundation takes an active role in assisting
communities across North Carolina and truly believes in “People Helping People.” Each of the 115 North
Carolina Local Education Agencies (“LEAs”)/School Districts will receive a minimum of one scholarship for
a senior to attend one of the 16 constituent campuses of the University of North Carolina System.
Although the SECU Foundation Scholarship program recognizes academic achievement, the People
Helping People Scholarship has a much broader purpose - recognizing leadership, integrity, and community
involvement.
The SECU Foundation People Helping People Scholarship is only available to graduating public high
school seniors who are either current members of State Employees’ Credit Union (“SECU”) or the
child of a parent/guardian who is a member of SECU at the time of application. Membership eligibility
does not include Local Government Federal Credit Union or NC Press Association Credit Union
members. Preference will be given to students whose parents or guardians and family members are public
sector employees (state, local or federal government; public health; public education) who live and
work in North Carolina. Additionally, preference will be given to those majoring in public service
degree programs (such as Public Health, Education, Public Administration, and Public Policy).
While not a requirement, identification of a financial need, as determined by submission of a Free
Application for Federal student Aid (FAFSA), will be taken into consideration by the selection
committee. Scholarship recipients in good academic standing will be able to receive the scholarship up to a
maximum of eight (8) consecutive semesters at the same university. Students selected should not be the
recipient of other large scholarships.
We require all applicants to follow the formal application process set by the SECU Foundation. All graduating
seniors meeting the stated criteria will be eligible for consideration. The criteria have been designed to give
the LEA Scholarship Selection Committee flexibility in awarding the scholarship. The LEA Scholarship
Selection Committee will recognize an individual in the senior graduating class deserving of an opportunity to
attend college and will select recipient(s) without regard to race, sex, color, creed, religious preference, age,
national origin, or disability. The LEA Scholarship Selection Committee will use the following criteria to
award the SECU Foundation People Helping People Scholarship to a recipient who:
1. Is either an SECU member or is eligible for membership through a parent/guardian. The student
or their parent/guardian must be an SECU member at the time of application.
2. Is a senior at a North Carolina public high school who has been accepted to one of the 16
constituent campuses of the University of North Carolina System; copy of acceptance letter must
be provided.
3. Is a resident of North Carolina under NCGS 116-143.1 and is eligible for in-state tuition.
4. Best exemplifies the “People Helping People” philosophy of SECU, and has demonstrated
2026
High School Scholarship Program
Eligibility Criteria
SECU Foundation
2026 People Helping People Scholarship – Eligibility
Criteria
Page 2 of 2
leadership, excellence of character, integrity, and community involvement.
5. Demonstrates scholastic achievement with a maintained 2.5 or higher unweighted grade point
average on a 4.0 scale and may be deserving of financial aid.
6. Will use the scholarship to pay for full-time student tuition and fees.*
7. Agrees to continue as a full-time student in good standing (maintaining 2.5 or higher GPA)
with the same university for up to eight (8) consecutive fall/spring semesters, with the
People Helping People scholarship amount payable at $1,250 per semester. Scholarships
are not transferable without prior approval of SECU Foundation.
a. A written appeal for transfer must be made to the SECU Foundation prior to transfer.
b. Any transfer to a university outside the UNC System will result in scholarship non-eligibility
following the transfer.
c. Any gap in active enrollment will result in non-eligibility for funding for each
semester missed.
8. Is not a director, employee, or family member of a director or employee of SECU or the SECU
Foundation, or a family member of a member of the scholarship selection committee. For the
purpose of this scholarship program and a student’s relation to a director, employee, or selection
committee member, family member includes spouse, parents, siblings, children, grandchildren
and great-grandchildren, and spouses of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, of a
selection committee member, employee or director of SECU, or employee or director of SECU
Foundation. Also, for the purpose of this scholarship program and a student’s relation to a
director, employee, or selection committee member, family member also includes persons living in
the same residence and maintaining a single economic unit as a selection committee member,
employee or director of SECU, or employee or director of SECU Foundation. However, please
note that to be eligible for the scholarship, at the time of application, the student must be a member
of SECU or be eligible for membership through a parent or guardian at the time of application to be
eligible for the scholarship.
The decision of the LEA Scholarship Selection Committee will be final if all requirements have been met.
*Please see 2026 PHP FAQs for information regarding early graduation.
Each SECU Foundation Scholarship recipient must receive a copy of the Eligibility Requirements.