Building on a decade of impact, SECU Foundation has renewed its Public Fellows Internship Program for 2026 and increased funding for participating students, continuing its long-standing support of North Carolina students and communities.
Each undergraduate selected as a Public Fellow through their university will receive a stipend up to $6,000 for their internship, an increase in impact from the $5,000 that has been provided since the program launched in 2015.
The Public Fellows Internship Program offers students from all 16 universities in the UNC System the opportunity to gain paid, hands-on experience at local agencies and non-profit organizations, with an emphasis on service in rural and underserved communities across the state. Students interested in the Public Fellows Internship Program apply through their respective universities, with application timelines and selection processes managed at the campus level.
“We are extremely pleased with the tremendous success and impact of the SECU Public Fellows Internship Program,” said SECU Foundation Board Chair Mona Moon. “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.”
In addition to its 10-year milestone, the 2025 program year marked significant growth, expanding the program’s collective reach to 94 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. To date, SECU Foundation has committed more than $12.5 million to the program, supporting 2,132 interns.
“The SECU Public Fellows Internship Program successfully delivered a transformative experience for our students,” said Fayetteville State University’s Assistant Department Chair and Assistant Professor for the Broadwell College of Business and Economics Dr. Rodney McCrowre. “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.”