The SECU Public Service Fellows program is designed to connect interested, talented undergraduate students with local leadership in order to obtain meaningful on-the-job experience with a local agency or organization while providing a unique learning opportunity to allow the SECU Public Fellows Intern to give back to his or her community. The program is for undergraduate residents of North Carolina studying full time at Appalachian and nine other schools in the UNC system. It has two broad goals: to help build capacity in rural communities, which are prone to talent drains, and to generate interest in job opportunities that are closer to home for many students.
Students majoring within the Department of Government and Justice Studies are required to complete an internship. SECU funding makes that more affordable because it covers costs such as travel, food and lodging. Each student intern earns a stipend of $5,000 and six credit hours for a nine- to 12-week internship. Since 2016, the SECU Foundation, working in partnership with the UNC system, has awarded the ten participating universities $100,000 annually. Students can learn more about a SECU supported internship program at https://gjs.appstate.edu/students/internships/secu-fellowship.
Corrina Bost, senior
Major: Criminal Justice, minor in Anthropology
Hometown: Burlington, N.C.
Internship site: The Center for Community Transitions Women's Facility, Charlotte, N.C.
Poster presentation title: Challenges and Needs for Women Offenders' Successful Reentry
“Interning at CCT has allowed me to focus my career goals and become more confident in my passion to work with correctional populations.”
Alexander Gage Covington, senior
Major: Criminal Justice with a concentration in International Studies
Hometown: Rockingham, N.C.
Internship site: State Bureau of Investigation, Western District, Asheville, N.C.
Poster presentation title: Opioid Crisis: History, Public Health and Prevention
“My internship with the State Bureau of Investigation this past summer was a once in a lifetime experience. The opportunity that the SECU Foundation gave me truly helped me focus completely on my internship without worrying about financial burdens. This internship has shown me how giving back to the community is accomplished through public works.”
Jordyn Dwyer, senior
Major: Criminal Justice, International Studies
Hometown: Wilmington, N.C.
Internship site: Boone Police Department, Boone N.C.
Poster presentation title: Contamination at the Crime Scene
“The Police Department of Boone is an amazing agency filled with incredible talent. The criminal investigations department helped me to discover my niche in the criminal justice system, and I am so thankful for the relationships I have made and the guidance I have received this summer.”
Angela Eccles, senior
Major: Criminal Justice
Hometown: Apex, N.C.
Internship site: Guardian ad Litem, District 10, Raleigh, N.C.
Poster presentation title: Race and the Child Welfare System: an issue of overrpresentation
"As an intern at the Guardian ad Litem office, I have gained an invaluable experience that has allowed me to grow both academically and professionally. Through my time as an intern, I was able to work closely with various agencies including the North Carolina Judicial System, not for profit organizations, Department of Health and Human Services, and other agencies. As a Guardian ad Litem, I have been able to advocate for children's best interest through independent investigation and court reports. The generous scholarship from the SECU Foundation allowed me to fully commit to my role as both an intern and volunteer and has enabled me to continue my commitment to the Guardian ad Litem office after the tenure of my internship."
Seth D. Fraser, senior
Major: Criminal Justice with a Political Science concentration
Hometown: Burlington, N.C.
Internship site: Alamance County Sheriff's Department, Graham, N.C.
Poster presentation title: Methamphetamine at the Local Level
"The SECU Fellows Scholarship Program has given me a unique opportunity to observe firsthand the important work done by the Alamance County Sheriff's Department for rural, underserved communities."
Hector Gutierrez, senior
Major: Criminal Justice
Hometown: Oswego, N.Y.
Internship site: Watauga County Probation Office
Poster presentation title: Evidence-based Practices in Probation
“My experience here at the Watauga County Probation Office has been incredible. I have learned a lot about the field of community corrections and what it takes to be a good officer. The help I have received from the SECU program has allowed me to focus my time on my internship. Additionally, it has provided me with the means to cover the costs of tuition, as well as the ability to acquire professional attire. I sincerely thank the SECU program for its generosity and hope that other students may benefit from it in the future.”
Abby Hord, senior
Major: Political Science with a concentration in Pre-professional Legal Studies, minor in Criminal Justice
Hometown: Lincolnton, N.C.
Internship site: Lincoln County Clerk of Superior Court's Office
“Throughout my time as an intern with the Lincoln County Clerk of Court's Office, I have been able to directly serve and assist the citizens of my hometown while gaining a greater understanding of the court system and those that it impacts. As my internship draws to a close, I am incredibly grateful for the SECU Scholarship and the means of support it has provided me with throughout the summer. I fully intend to continue serving the people of Lincoln County after attaining a law degree, giving back to the community that has provided me with so much.”
Halee Ratcliff, senior
Major: Political Science with a concentration in Public Administration, minor in Community and Regional Planning
Hometown: Mount Airy, N.C.
Internship site: Town of Dobson, Administration/Town Manager
Poster presentation title: Recreation as a Tool for Rural Economic Development
“With the assistance of the SECU fellowship, I was able to intern for the Town of Dobson. This experience of working in a small and underserved town has confirmed by career goal to be a town manager in a rural North Carolina town. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity and assistance SECU has given to me!”
Jeffrey Sedlacek, senior
Major: Political Science with a concentration in Public Management, minor in General Business
Hometown: King, N.C.
Internship site: Insight Human Services in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Poster presentation title: Opioid Prevention in the Appalachian Region
“Through working with Insight’s substance prevention branch, I was able to provide information to people about the effects of drugs and assist local governments with resources to make their communities healthier. My internship experience allowed me to see how much of a positive impact non-profit organizations have in rural communities. This internship was an exciting opportunity, and it would not have been possible without SECU and Insight Human Services.”
Bailey Vann, senior
Major: Criminal Justice, minor Sociology
Hometown: Conway, N.C.
Internship site: Winston-Salem Police Department
“While interning this summer I learned a great deal about what it takes to have a career in law enforcement. I learned about each unit within the department and hope to one day experience many of them throughout my career. Being able to intern with Winston-Salem Police Department was an informative and incredible experience.”
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About the SECU Foundation
A not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by its members, State Employees Credit Union (SECU) has been providing employees of the State of North Carolina and their families with consumer financial services for almost 78 years. The SECU Foundation, a 501c (3) charitable organization funded solely by the contributions of SECU members, promotes local community development in North Carolina primarily through high impact projects in the areas of housing, education, healthcare and human services.
About the Department of Government and Justice Studies
Appalachian State University’s Department of Government and Justice Studies offers undergraduate programs in political science and criminal justice, and graduate programs in political science and public administration. Housed in the College of Arts and Sciences, the department has over 600 undergraduate majors and more than 70 graduate students. Learn more at https://gjs.appstate.edu.
About the College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences is home to 16 academic departments, one stand-alone academic program, two centers and one residential college. These units span the humanities and the social, mathematical and natural sciences. The College of Arts and Sciences aims to develop a distinctive identity built upon our university's strengths, traditions and unique location. The college’s values lie not only in service to the university and local community, but through inspiring, training, educating and sustaining the development of its students as global citizens. There are approximately 6,100 student majors in the college. As the college is also largely responsible for implementing Appalachian's general education curriculum, it is heavily involved in the education of all students at the university, including those pursuing majors in other colleges. Learn more at https://cas.appstate.edu.
Oct. 18, 2018
Ellen Gwin Burnette
BOONE, N.C.
SECU Public Service Fellows program at Appalachian State
SECU Public Service Fellows program at Appalachian State