JaxPort Scholarship to Help UNF Students Pay Tuition

New endowed memorial scholarship honors former port authority executive

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The Jacksonville Port Authority (JaxPort) has approved a new endowed memorial scholarship for University of North Florida (UNF) juniors and seniors in engineering, logistics, or transportation. The scholarship, named after former JaxPort executive James Bennett, is open to students from several counties in the region and targets those with financial need and strong GPAs.

Why it matters

The new scholarship aims to provide financial assistance to UNF students pursuing degrees in fields critical to the port and logistics industry, helping them access higher education and potentially join the local workforce after graduation. It reflects JaxPort's commitment to supporting the next generation of talent in Northeast Florida.

The details

The James Bennett Endowed Memorial Scholarship already has more than $33,000 in contributions and will give preference to students from Baker County. The scholarship was created to honor Bennett, a former JaxPort executive who passed away. It is open to UNF juniors and seniors studying engineering, logistics, or transportation.

  • The JaxPort board approved the creation of the scholarship in February 2026.

The players

JaxPort

The Jacksonville Port Authority, which operates the port facilities in Jacksonville, Florida.

University of North Florida (UNF)

A public university located in Jacksonville, Florida.

James Bennett

A former executive at the Jacksonville Port Authority who passed away and is being honored with the new scholarship.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The first recipients of the James Bennett Endowed Memorial Scholarship will be selected in the fall of 2026 for the 2027-2028 academic year.

The takeaway

The new JaxPort scholarship represents an investment in the next generation of talent in the port and logistics industry in Northeast Florida, providing financial assistance to UNF students and honoring the legacy of a former port authority executive.