SECU Foundation awards scholarships to Davidson-Davie students – the-dispatch.com
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Showers early, then cloudy in the afternoon. High around 80F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..
A shower is possible early. Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 51F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
Updated: October 8, 2025 @ 6:08 am
Four of the 10 SECU Foundation Bridge to Career Program Scholarship recipients are pictured, from left: Damien Adams, Kyle Speelman, William Apple and Grayson Jordan.
SECU People Helping People Scholarship program recipient John Patterson (left) is pictured with Davidson-Davie faculty member and SECU Advisory Board member Dwight Freeman.
Four of the 10 SECU Foundation Bridge to Career Program Scholarship recipients are pictured, from left: Damien Adams, Kyle Speelman, William Apple and Grayson Jordan.
SECU People Helping People Scholarship program recipient John Patterson (left) is pictured with Davidson-Davie faculty member and SECU Advisory Board member Dwight Freeman.
You might find Kyle Speelman near water someday — oceans, lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, any water. That’s because he wants to dive right into an underwater welding career — and the State Employees’ Credit Union is getting him one step closer to that goal.
Speelman, who lives in Thomasville, was among 10 students at Davidson-Davie Community College who were recently awarded $500 scholarships from the SECU Foundation as part of its Bridge to Career Program. The program aims to remove financial barriers for students who seek to obtain credentials through the Workforce Continuing Education Division of their local community college.
Laura Goins, vice president for the State Employees’ Credit Union Lexington branch, said that $18,000 is awarded annually to students in the North Carolina Community College System working toward careers in trades.
Speelman, who is enrolled in his second welding class at the college and recently secured a job in the trade, plans to enroll in more coursework because he has bigger dreams.
“I want to be able to support my future family and sustain myself and also show others how to weld,” Speelman said. “But the end goal is underwater welding. I’ll go wherever that work takes me.”
The scholarship gives him a leg up in helping him continue his courses and helps financially, he said.
“My family has struggled for a long time, so this scholarship helps to make sure I can get somewhere,” he said.
He wants to study aquatics and zoology to learn about marine life — knowledge that would serve him well in the water.
Fellow recipient Damien Adams of Lexington, who is studying HVAC, has similar goals of being able to support himself and a family.
“The scholarship gives me encouragement and initiative to go out and be successful. It feels good knowing that I’m able to help people,” he said.
Students selected for the scholarship are all enrolled in skilled trade programs, said Jennifer Corbett, coordinator of business and workforce training at the college. A team of five employees at the college select the recipients based on details provided by the students, including an application and an essay that details how they are able to help their community, as well as what the scholarship means to them.
“A portion of the $500 scholarship pays for tuition, and the remaining goes directly to the students,” Corbett said. “Typically, they use the remaining money to buy supplies, such as welding helmets, gloves and books.”
The 10 students who were awarded scholarships:
Grayson Jordan of Thomasville – Electrical
Nathaniel Alexander of Lexington – HVAC
Jonathan Adams of Asheboro – HVAC
Damien Adams of Lexington – HVAC
William Apple of Brown Summit – Welding: TIG
Kyle Speelman, of Thomasville – Welding: TIG
Michael Leonard of Lexington – Welding: MIG/Stick
Robert Wall of Welcome – Welding: MIG/Stick
Mark Sanger of Winston-Salem – Welding: MIG/Stick
Jah’maury Lom of Lexington – Welding: MIG/Stick
The SECU Foundation recently awarded two other scholarships as part of the People Helping People Scholarship program to John Patterson of Lexington and MacKenzie Potter of Winston-Salem, who each received $5,000.
The SECU People Helping People Scholarship program was established in 2005 and awards two scholarships annually at each of the 58 community colleges, an annual investment of $580,000 statewide.
Patterson is taking prerequisites with the goal of entering the associate’s degree in nursing. Patterson has taken a lead role in his family, inspiring his brother and sister to pursue their GEDs and college — after he did the same himself.
“We are now working on higher education together,” Patterson said. “My goals include building self-confidence, learning to collaborate with others and becoming a stronger leader through new experiences.”
Potter is enrolled in the associate of applied science degree in the zoo and aquarium science program.
“My goals are to build lifelong friendships, strengthen collaboration and gain confidence in my decisions,” Potter said.
For more information about scholarships provided by the SECU Foundation, visit ncsecufoundation.org/Projects/Scholarships.html
Jill Doss-Raines is the senior reporter at The Dispatch. Contact me at jill.doss-raines@the-dispatch.com.
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