The SECU Foundation, the charitable arm of the $58.1 billion State Employees' Credit Union in Raleigh, N.C., renewed its Public Fellows Internship Program for 2026 and increased funding to $1.95 million for the year. Since the program's launch, the foundation has committed more than $12.5 million, supporting 2,132 interns across North Carolina.
Thanks to the increased commitment, each undergraduate selected as a public fellow will receive a stipend up to $6,000 for their internship, an increase from the $5,000 that has been provided annually since the program launched in 2015.
Each public fellow is selected through their university. Students from all 16 universities in the University of North Carolina System can apply for the Public Fellows Internship Program through their respective universities, which manage application timelines and selection at the campus level. The program provides paid, hands-on experience at local agencies and nonprofit organizations, with a focus on serving rural and underserved communities across the state.
"We are extremely pleased with the tremendous success and impact of the SECU Public Fellows Internship Program," Mona Moon, SECU Foundation board chair, said. "By providing students with meaningful, paid internship opportunities and supporting organizations addressing local needs, the program benefits both the next generation of leaders and the communities they serve."
The 2025 program year also marked the program's 10-year milestone and significant growth, expanding its collective reach to 94 of North Carolina's 100 counties.
"The SECU Public Fellows Internship Program successfully delivered a transformative experience for our students," Rodney McCrowre, Fayetteville State University's assistant department chair and assistant professor for the Broadwell College of Business and Economics, said. "Interns engaged in substantive, on-the-job work which enhanced their skills and led to powerful career development outcomes, including job offers and expanded professional horizons."
The SECU Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization funded by the contributions of SECU members, promotes local community development in North Carolina in the areas of housing, education, health care and human services.
Joyce Moed can be reached at joyce.moed@arc-network.com.
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