Victoria Young — 2025 Pay Day Ready Scholarship Winner
The Raleigh Summer Youth Employment Program is thrilled to celebrate Victoria Young, one of our outstanding Virtual Pathway participants and the 2025 Pay Day Ready Raleigh Scholarship recipient through our new partnership with the Economic Awareness Council.
Selected from more than 100 virtual RSYEP applicants, Victoria was named one of just nine scholarship recipients across five cities nationwide. She received a $500 scholarship to support her continued education at Wake Technical Community College, reflecting her dedication, leadership, and commitment to financial empowerment.
In reflecting on her experience, Victoria shared how the Future Ready financial curriculum shaped her understanding of money management and long-term planning:
“Through this financial education module, I’ve learned the importance of emergency savings, the value of employer matching in retirement accounts, and the reality of risk vs. reward when it comes to investing. As a first-generation college student and someone who has worked hard to build a path forward despite limited resources, every dollar counts. These funds will help me pay for tuition, textbooks, transportation, and back-to-school supplies without having to take on additional debt or spread myself thin with multiple jobs.”
Victoria’s story highlights the impact of the first year of collaboration between RSYEP and the Economic Awareness Council, a nonprofit organization dedicated to equipping students and families with the knowledge and confidence to make informed financial decisions now and in the future. Through this inaugural partnership, virtual participants engaged in the Future Ready curriculum, gaining practical financial literacy skills that support both personal goals and long-term success.
Congratulations to Victoria on this well-deserved achievement—we are proud of her accomplishments and excited to see what the future holds.
