Coastal Carolina University's Burroughs & Chapin Center for Marine and Wetland Studies recently received a $30,000 donation from the Jim Caudle Artificial Reef Foundation.

The Caudle Foundation's gift will create an endowment fund that supports student research and related operational activities, which may include (1) student stipends for graduate and undergraduate assistants conducting center-related research and professional activities; (2) operational costs for supporting research engaging students including equipment, boat and travel to field work; and (3) student travel to present results at scientific/professional meetings.

"We saw all of the good work the University was doing studying both the biological and physical environment both on and off of the coast of Waties Island, where the Jim Caudle Artificial Reef is located, that it made perfect sense to partner with the University and support their efforts," said Ron McManus of the Caudle Foundation's board of directors. "The University's work helps to secure the future of the same natural resources that we as fishermen depend on, so it is an obvious fit."

The foundation was created in honor of Jim Caudle, a Little River fisherman who died in 2000. The original mission of the foundation was to create an artificial reef off Little River Inlet.

"We are very proud of the opportunities for Coastal Carolina University students to become involved in 'real-world' research and the remarkable contribution this gift makes toward the education of the next generation of scientists and citizens," said Paul Gayes, director of the Burroughs & Chapin Center for Marine and Wetland Studies. "It is even more meaningful that those efforts serve direct needs to better understand and manage our region's natural resources that are so important to our economy, history and way of life along the coast. The Caudle Endowment is a wonderful statement of Coastal's success in both areas and the tremendous generosity, involvement and vision of the community."