SECU Veterans Hall at Tarheel ChalleNGe Academy II opens its doors to female cadets
RALEIGH, NC (August 15, 2016) — A Ribbon Cutting was held Friday in New London for SECU Veterans Hall, a new dormitory that will house female cadets attending Tarheel ChalleNGe Academy (TCA) II. The dedication ceremony was attended by representatives from SECU Foundation and State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU), local and state leaders, North Carolina National Guard and Tarheel ChalleNGe officials. A $500,000 grant from SECU Foundation helped to fund the construction of the 60-bed facility.
The addition of SECU Veterans Hall is part of the New London campus renovations that began in Spring 2015, using TCA’s Salemburg site in Sampson County as a model to replicate its quasi-military style program for high school dropouts. The Stanly County campus opened to cadets on November 15, 2015, with its first class graduating April 21, 2016. SECU Veterans Hall for female cadets increases TCA’s capacity to 250 graduates per semester, helping more young women redirect their lives through education, job skills and self-discipline. In the past 22 years, over 4,400 young adults have changed their lives through TCA, a program sponsored by the North Carolina National Guard.
“Tarheel ChalleNGe is the single most value-added program the North Carolina National Guard provides to the communities of our state,” remarked Major General Greg Lusk, the Adjutant General of North Carolina. “Our commitment to this program and our communities is resolute. Partnering with State Employees’ Credit Union members through the SECU Foundation, we have the amazing opportunity to positively change the lives of thousands of at-risk youth.”
“Tarheel ChalleNGe Academy has become a leader in guiding young men and women and equipping them with the tools to succeed,” commented Jim Johnson, SECU Foundation Board Chair. “SECU Veterans Hall will double the Academy’s capacity to help a greater number of young women across the state become successful individuals. We are proud to partner with Tarheel ChalleNGe to help bring this initiative to completion, one of many projects that reflects the Credit Union’s and SECU Foundation’s steadfast support for the North Carolina National Guard, including college scholarships, laptops for Tarheel ChalleNGe cadets and a utility vehicle and trailer for the Kids on Guard Family Readiness Program.”
About SECU
A not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by its members, SECU has been providing employees of the state of North Carolina and their families with consumer financial services for nearly 82 years. The Credit Union also offers a diversified line of financial advisory services including retirement and education planning, tax preparation, insurance, trust and estate planning services, and investments through its partners and affiliated entities. SECU serves over 2.4 million members through 266 branch offices, nearly 1,100 ATMs, 24/7 Member Services via phone and a website, www.ncsecu.org.
