ECU students chosen for SECU Public Fellows Internship Program
A group of East Carolina University students will spend the summer making a meaningful impact across eastern North Carolina through the SECU Public Fellows Internship Program.
Now in its 11th year at ECU, the program connects undergraduates with local governments, economic development agencies, educational institutions and other nonprofit organizations to address community-identified priorities.
Funded by the State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) Foundation, the program provides students with paid, hands-on professional experiences while helping rural communities build the capacity to address public issues. Since its inception in 2014, ECU has served as a founding partner of the program, which originally launched as the SECU Public Service Internship Program.
“We continue to hear how impactful this program is for our community partners. By connecting them with talented students, leaders gain fresh perspectives on local projects and challenges. Students are introducing innovative tools like social media and newer technologies to help organizations advance their goals. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship where communities gain from students’ ideas and energy, and students receive valuable experience beyond the classroom,” said program manager Cassie Keel.
The 2025 SECU Public Fellows and internship sites are:
- Maya Beatty, Marketing major, Imagine Pamlico
- Hazel Bolden, Biology major, North Carolina Coastal Federation
- Lauren Bullard, Finance and Marketing major, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern North Carolina
- Taylor Cavaco, Public Health major, Beaufort-Hyde Partnership for Children
- Darian Chamblee, Finance major, Koinonia Community Center
- Yadiel Cruz, Community and Regional Planning major, City of Goldsboro
- Jonah Dickerson, Geology major, Sound Rivers
- Kelsey Dudash, Biology major, N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island
- Sanaa Everett, Social Work major, Aces for Autism
- Madison Hrukska, Management Information Systems major, Eastern Carolina Vocational Center
- Taki’yah Joyner, Economics and Political Science major, Murfreesboro Chamber of Commerce
- Bethany Manor, Biology major, Sylvan Heights Bird Park
- Dawson Mitchell, Finance major, Strategic Twin-Counties Education Partnership
- Cassidy Plotzke, Political Science major, Town of Winterville
- Ava Poole, Applied Economics major, Greenville-Pitt Chamber of Commerce
- Joycelyn Reyes, Art major, Emerge Gallery & Art Center
- Landon Simmons, Informative Computer Technology major, City of New Bern
- Payton Smith, Social Work major, Kelly Children’s Home
- Lauryn Strothers, Community and Regional Planning major, Washington County
- Charles Wroten, Social Work major, Wilson County Senior Center
To date, 185 ECU students have completed internships with 82 organizations across 23 North Carolina counties. This year, 20 students were selected, and each will complete 330 internship hours with organizations in 12 counties. Interns receive a $5,000 stipend for their work.
Internship projects have included downtown revitalization, strategic planning, water quality testing and reporting, community programming, and organizing public events such as festivals and fundraisers.
“This program is a win-win-win,” said Dr. Sharon Paynter, ECU’s chief innovation and engagement officer. “Students apply classroom learning in real-world settings. Community partners gain access to talented interns and university resources. And ECU strengthens its regional engagement in meaningful and lasting ways.
“We look forward to continuing to work with the State Employees’ Credit Union Foundation and our community partners to provide transformative experiences to students and impactful work across the region through the PFI program,” she said.
The SECU Public Fellows Internship Program is open to ECU undergraduates who are North Carolina residents and have completed at least 60 semester credit hours.
Learn more about the SECU Public Fellows internship program online.