Shaw, Underwood Receive SECU Foundation Scholarships

WINTERVILLE—The State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) Foundation presented scholarships this week to Pitt Community College students Reginald Shaw and Melinda Underwood.

Shaw, a Bethel resident, and Underwood, who lives in Tarboro, will each receive $5,000 through their awards to be used toward their PCC tuition and other educational expenses.

The 27-year-old Shaw, a Connecticut native, is studying Therapeutic Massage at Pitt. Underwood, 22, is pursuing an associate degree in nursing.

Each year, the SECU Foundation awards $580,000 through its “People Helping People Scholarship Program.” The scholarships are presented to students at each of North Carolina’s 58 community colleges in recognition of their leadership, character, integrity and community involvement.

Karen Lee, PCC’s Radiography program director and a member of SECU’s local advisory board, said the scholarships presented to Shaw and Underwood demonstrate the commitment of SECU members to education and to making a difference in North Carolina.

“These scholarships are helping North Carolina students obtain an education through the community college system and preparing them for a successful future,” she said.

A charitable organization, the SECU Foundation was chartered to help identify and address community issues that are beyond the normal scope of the State Employees’ Credit Union. As a result, the Foundation promotes local community development, primarily through high-impact projects in the areas of education, heath and human services.

09/15/2009