Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach, FL — March 24, 2026 — The Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor & Convention Bureau recently welcomed 14 students with a group called “Students Leaving A Mark” (SLAM) from Grand Valley State University who chose to spend their spring break giving back through a service-learning experience.
Rather than opting for a traditional spring break, the students participated in a hands-on educational initiative designed to deepen their understanding of tourism while making a positive impact on the local community. The trip was organized by Hospitality & Tourism Management Professor Lorie Tuma, a full-time Venice resident who teaches remotely. She coordinated with Tourism Director Sean Doherty to create an immersive experience for the group.
The day began in Englewood with a tourism presentation led by Doherty, followed by a session on social media best practices, strategies, and etiquette presented by Lexi Floyd-Nye, Social Media Content Manager for the tourism department. Students then traveled to Englewood Beach, where they applied their new skills by capturing content and photos for social media.
The group continued their experience with a visit to Sunseeker Resort, where they enjoyed lunch and received a guided tour. The tour highlighted the wide range of career opportunities available within the hospitality industry, including business, sales, engineering, customer service, management, retail, and culinary fields.
In the afternoon, students participated in service-learning projects alongside staff from the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center. They learned about Florida’s ecosystem, water conservation, and the role oysters play in maintaining water quality. As part of the project, students built oyster gardens and placed them on docks in Punta Gorda, where they will grow and contribute to improving the local water system.
Sean Doherty stated, “The SLAM program at Grand Valley State University is a win-win for all involved and we are grateful to have been selected to participate this year. We hope each student walked away with a better understanding, not only of the local benefits of tourism, but how tourism in many locations throughout the nation depends on good stewardship of parks, beaches, waterways and other natural resources”.
The students fully self-funded their trip, demonstrating a strong commitment to both their education and community service. For more information about Students Leaving A Mark (SLAM) and past service initiatives, visit: https://studentsleavingamark.weebly.com
About Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach
Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor & Convention Bureau is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting all of Charlotte County, Fl as a world-class destination. We work with a variety of stakeholders to develop and implement marketing programs that attract visitors, generate economic benefits and enhance the quality of life for residents.
Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach is Florida’s best-kept secret of a charming natural paradise located on the idyllic Southwest Gulf Coast. This coastal community surrounding the state’s second-largest harbor sits conveniently between Tampa and Naples. Outdoor enthusiasts will find a haven of vibrant experiences in the sun-soaked oasis of the Southwest Florida islands, characterized by almost year-round sunshine and sub-tropical weather. Relaxation and discovery await in miles of waterways and inland exploration trails filled with unspoiled natural beauty. From beaches to boating, hiking to harbor tours, fishing to nature paths; to sun, shelling, and fossilized sharks’ teeth, Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach immerses lively locals and active adventurers in a pure island experience. Most notably known for its 230 miles of pristine unparalleled shoreline, including captivating river passages, a mangrove-edged aquatic preserve, and more than a dozen miles of natural Gulf beaches, the Charlotte Harbor Gulf Island
Coast includes the areas of Boca Grande, Don Pedro Island, Englewood-Cape Haze, Little Gasparilla Island, Manasota Key, Knight Island, Placida, Babcock Ranch, Port Charlotte, Charlotte Harbor and Punta Gorda.
To learn more about Punta Gorda / Englewood Beach, visit www.PureFlorida.com, call 941.743.1900 or discover the destination on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @RealPureFlorida.
