University of North Florida students will have the opportunity to receive an endowed scholarship named after a former Jacksonville Port Authority executive.
At its meeting Feb. 23, the JaxPort board unanimously approved creation of the James Bennett Endowed Memorial Scholarship, which will be awarded to junior or senior UNF students pursuing degrees in engineering, logistics or transportation.
Bennett worked as JaxPort’s chief operating officer until his death in a December 2025 car accident. He was 58.
As COO, Bennett managed the port’s operational divisions as well as its engineering and construction department. He oversaw JaxPort’s capital growth program and the expansion of Blount Island’s container and auto-handling capabilities.
Bennett joined JaxPort as its senior director of engineering and construction. In that role, he was responsible for the completion of JaxPort’s 47-foot harbor deepening project, $100 million berth modernization project and renovations to the JaxPort Cruise Terminal.
Scholarship recipients must be from Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau or St. Johns counties. Preference for the scholarship will be weighted to residents of Baker County residents, where Bennett served as a county commissioner. Students must demonstrate financial need and maintain a GPA above 3.0.
Materials provided to the JaxPort board said that contributions from JaxPort employees, tenants and community partners total more than $33,000.