(l. to r.) Todd Lambright, Georgia United Chief Growth Officer; Kelsey Harpe, Scholarship Recipient; Dr. James Williams, Scholarship Namesake; Landen Tomlin, Scholarship Recipient; Carolina Crockett, Georgia United Chief People Officer; TreVaughn Allen, AACUC Member Engagement Manager. (Not pictured) Lauren Chambers, Scholarship Recipient 

Duluth, GA (June 16, 2026) – Georgia United Credit Union Foundation in partnership with the African American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC) is excited to announce the 2026 recipients of their 3rd annual Dr. James Williams HBCU Scholarship:  

• Lauren Chambers, Atlanta, GA - Psychology Major, Morris Brown College 
• Kelsey Harpe, Covington, GA - Health Sciences Major, Spelman College 
• Landen Tomlin, Stonecrest, GA - Music Major, Shaw University 

All three were awarded their $2,500 scholarship checks today at Georgia United Credit Union’s corporate offices. This year’s scholarship recipients, were chosen from among a pool of over 60 HBCU student applicants due to their impactful essays answering the prompt, “Explain the importance of representation in your field of study or profession, and how do you plan to contribute to increasing diversity in that area?  

Dr. Williams, the namesake of the scholarship, has had a distinguished career in education, serving as the former Deputy Superintendent for Administration of DeKalb County Schools. He has also held positions as a teacher, principal and area director in the DeKalb County School System. Dr. Williams completed his undergraduate studies at Alabama State University earned his master's and Ed.S. degrees from Georgia State University and received his Doctorate from Clark Atlanta University. A member of Georgia United Credit Union since 1971, Dr. Williams was elected as the first African American to serve on the Credit Union’s Board of Directors in 1997. Throughout his tenure, he served in various leadership roles, including Vice Chair, Secretary and as a member of the Credit Committee and Asset & Liability Committee. 

For years, the Georgia United Foundation has been dedicated to enriching lives by offering scholarships that make it easier for Georgia families to afford college. These scholarships are awarded annually to empower students to achieve their academic dreams. So far, Georgia United Scholarships have impacted 443 students with over $750,000 disbursed.  

Scholarships applications are accepted in January each year at www.gucufoundation.org and are open to credit union members who are high school seniors, college undergraduates, and public-school educators seeking advanced degrees. HBCU Scholarships are open to HBCU students who apply through AACUC’s website. 

About Georgia United Foundation 

Georgia United Foundation is committed to improving the quality of life for children and families in the communities it serves through impactful programs funded through corporate contributions and delivered via volunteer efforts from team members and community partners. The foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization and is the philanthropic arm of Georgia United Credit Union. You may contact the foundation by emailing foundation@gucu.org.

About Georgia United Credit Union  

Georgia United Credit Union is an award-winning financial leader and partner in education. Headquartered in Duluth, Georgia United is as one of the state’s largest credit unions with $2.5 billion in assets and more than 150,000 members. As a full-service financial institution, Georgia United offers competitive products and services for every stage of life. Visit gucu.org or the local Conyers branch to learn more.  

Soundbites From Scholarship Recipients

• Lauren Chambers, Atlanta, GA - Psychology Major, Morris Brown College; “My educational journey is not just about earning a degree, it is about aligning my purpose with the impact I want to make in the lives of others. As a psychology major with aspirations of becoming an educator, I am driven by a desire to support and inspire young people, especially those who may not always see themselves reflected in spaces of opportunity. Choosing to pursue my education at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) is a meaningful step in that direction because it offers an environment that values cultural identity, community, and academic excellence.” 
• Kelsey Harpe, Covington, GA - Health Sciences Major, Spelman College; Parents: Kaja and Reginald Harpe; “Attending a Historically Black College has transformed my education into a mission, my career into a responsibility, and my success into something that must be shared with my community. As a Health Science major at Spelman College on the pre-medicine track, she aspires to be a physician-scientist dedicated to addressing environmental health disparities in underserved communities.” 
• Landen Tomlin, Stonecrest, GA - Music Major, Shaw University; Mother Shannon Woods; “I now know that I ended up on this campus for a greater purpose than just studying music. A subject that I was continuously told when I came to tour the campus was not offered. Not only is it offered, but I am learning from actual musicians who are constantly showcasing their craft. I was asked to join the marching band by my University Band professor who is also the marching band director, who told me he saw great potential in me. I am one of the few students on this campus studying music, helping to bring the dreams of my music professors to life. I am helping to create space for an actual music department on this campus one day.”  

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