SECU Foundation funds scholarships for WCC students
Wayne Community College students who were awarded 2022-2023 SECU Bridge to Career scholarships from the State Employees’ Credit Union Foundation are, left to right, front row, Leha Randolph, Andrea McNeill, Dezire Wright-Shiver, Lee Ann Gooding, Krystal Bryant, Alondra Martinez-Lopez, Alfonzo Martinez-Lopez and Lalecia Donaldson. Back row, Vickie Renn, Dashara Wynn, Valencia Cooper, Whitney Mosley, Juan Pablo-Gutierrez, Jasmine O'Neal and Cory Johnson. Not pictured are Shaina Cruz, Khari Anderson, Croston Best, Tonya Brown, Cindy Caviness, Marquell Gibbs, Tdress Jones and Monica Williams.
GOLDSBORO — The State Employees’ Credit Union Foundation has provided scholarship funds for Wayne Community College students receiving short-term training.
The funds from the member-funded SECU Foundation will give up to 30 students an SECU Bridge to Career scholarship valued at $500.
The 2022-2023 recipients and their programs of study are Shaina Chantel Arellano Cruz of Goldsboro, Nurse Aide II; Khari Kyel Anderson of Goldsboro, Pharmacy Technician; Croston Leroy Best of Pikeville, Nurse Aide I; Tonya Michelle Brown of Snow Hill, Nurse Aide I; Krystal Danielle Bryant of Pikeville, Nurse Aide II; Cindy Denise Caviness of Goldsboro, Nurse Aide I; Valencia Tonia Cooper of Goldsboro, Nurse Aide II; Lalecia Monique Donaldson of Goldsboro, Nurse Aide I; Marquell Lamonte Gibbs of Kinston, Truck Driver Training; Lee Ann Gooding of Mount Olive, Nurse Aide I; Juan Pablo-Gutierrez of Goldsboro, Truck Driver Training; Cory Evan Johnson of Goldsboro, Real Estate Pre-licensing; Tdress Jones of Goldsboro, Nurse Aide II; Alfonzo Emanuel Martinez-Lopez of Seven Springs, Nurse Aide II; Alondra Gisselle Martinez-Lopez of Seven Springs, Nurse Aide II; Andrea Krinshaw McNeill of Goldsboro, Nurse Aide II; Whitney Danyell Mosley of La Grange, Nurse Aide II; Jasmine Letice O’Neal of Fremont, Medical Billing and Coding; Leha Ozelia Randolph of Pikeville, Truck Driver Training; Vickie Lee Renn of Goldsboro, Life and Health Insurance Pre-Licensing; Monica Lynn Williams of Goldsboro, Nurse Aide II; Dezire Wright-Shiver of Goldsboro, Nurse Aide II and Dashara Shavon Wynn of Goldsboro, Nurse Aide II.
Bryant, who had previously completed the college’s Nurse Aide I and Medication Aide courses with the assistance of the same scholarship, spoke about her personal progress at a ceremony for this year’s scholarship recipients. In particular, after having lived most of her life in public housing with her three children, she now is able to work full-time and is renting a house. “It is quite an honor to be able to join my colleagues here tonight in receiving my scholarship,” she said.
Administered by each college, the initiative focuses on assisting individuals with finding vocational and job placement opportunities through eligible training programs that lead to state-regulated or industry-recognized credentials.
Scholarship funds can be used for educational expenses and other expenditures associated with the student’s program of study through a North Carolina Community College workforce development program. The SECU Foundation introduced the SECU Bridge to Career Program in 2018 to help students seeking to obtain careers with sustainable wages in their local communities.
“This scholarship program is an essential piece of the SECU Foundation’s scholarship offerings, filling the gap with support for individuals seeking a job in a high-demand trade industry or enhancing their education with new skills to advance their career,” said SECU Foundation Executive Director Jama Campbell. “North Carolina has an excellent community college system, and we are proud to work together with state educators to help North Carolinians work toward a better future. On behalf of SECU Foundation, we offer our congratulations to these recipients.”
With the combined commitments for the SECU Bridge to Career and “People Helping People” Community College Scholarship programs, SECU Foundation funding for the N.C. Community College System totals more than $1.6 million annually.
To learn more about this and other scholarships available for short-term training courses, contact Maxine Cooper at 919-739-6938 or mcooper@waynecc.edu.
