A student-run fishing tournament raised more than $14,000 to support an FGCU endowed scholarship fund honoring an FGCU student who died in 2014.
The Jesse M. Woodyard Scholarship will be awarded each fall to qualifying juniors or seniors pursuing degrees in Marine and Ecological Sciences. The fund was created with proceeds from The Fallen Eagle Redfish Classic, a fishing tournament held at Nervous Nellie’s at Fort Myers Beach. More than 70 boats participated in the inshore light-tackle contest, which was organized and run by FGCU students. They also held an auction and sold apparel and artwork to top their fundraising goal of $10,000.
“We pray this annual event will provide an opportunity for FGCU students and alumni to come together … to celebrate each other in fellowship and fishing. By doing so we will live out Jesse’s dream to help preserve the Florida environment on his behalf,” the Woodyard family said in a message on the tournament’s website, www.falleneagleredfishclassic.com.
For more information about contributing to this scholarship fund or others, call the FGCU Foundation at 590-1067.