FORT MYERS, Fla. – Two key departmental employees who contribute behind the scenes to nearly every home event, as well as in their daily work, Assistant Director of Marketing and Promotions Shane Pellegrine and Director of Video Production Monica Weber have been named the FGCU Athletics Eagles of the Quarter as announced by Director of Athletics Ken Kavanagh today.
 
Both play critical roles focusing on fan experience both in the venue and for those at home. As a member of the marketing staff, Pellegrine coordinates all facets of in-game promotions, event marketing, PA announcers, the Dirty Birds, and game atmosphere. Weber's creative talents are showcased in live streaming, video board content, video board operations (including the new Sale Family Videoboard at Swanson Stadium), and feature creative projects showcasing the talents of all 15 FGCU programs.
 
"It is heartwarming to see Shane and Monica appreciated by our student-athletes and their colleagues for the time and effort that they put in to promoting the success of all our programs," said Director of Athletics Ken Kavanagh. "While they may have a behind-the-scenes job for the most part, their work is publicly showcased before, during, and after every event we have. They truly bleed Green and Blue and that pride was clearly evident as they found new and innovative ways to promote our department during a most unusual time. Their dedication and creativity are assets to our individual student-athletes and their programs, Eagle Athletics overall, and the university as a whole."
 
The duo especially played key roles this spring semester as FGCU, along with all other ASUN programs and the majority of most NCAA Division I athletics departments, played fall and spring sports simultaneously due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This also included the overlap of the winter sport seasons of basketball and swimming and diving.
 
Pellegrine, a 2017 graduate of FGCU, is finishing his fourth year with the marketing staff. He originally served as a student assistant before commencing full-time duties for the department after graduation and was promoted to assistant director in July 2018. The Willimantic, Conn., native initially began interning with the marketing department early in his sophomore year. In his current role, he provides marketing and promotions for all 15 programs, while also scheduling anthem singers, coordinating Azul the Eagle, and heading up initiatives around campus and in the community. During the summer, he also helps recruit new Dirty Bird members, the official student organization supporting the Green and Blue, through the university's summer Eagle View orientation program.
 
Weber is also finishing her fourth year at FGCU after joining the Eagles in March 2017. She was promoted to Director of Video Production in 2019. Her primary role is the creation of digital video content such as highlights and interviews, while also overseeing live event production for FGCU's digital platforms which include ESPN+, YouTube Live and Facebook Live. Additionally, she coordinates daily operations and all facets related to the department's four videoboards in Alico Arena, Swanson Stadium, the FGCU Softball Complex, and the FGCU Aquatics Center. She also handles all requests from outside media or other entities for file footage used in covering FGCU student-athletes and the department as a whole.
 
The Eagles of the Quarter commenced in January as a way to honor FGCU Athletics staff members who go above and beyond in serving Eagle student-athletes and making the department successful.  Senior Associate Athletics Director for Administration Mike Estes and Assistant Athletics Director for Health Performance Nicole Neal were chosen as the inaugural honorees.

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E.A.G.L.E. CAMPAIGN
IT TAKES A TEAM to achieve our newest goal - a $10 million campaign to address student-athlete needs in continued academic success, life skills, mental health, nutrition, and strength and conditioning as well as departmental needs in facility expansion and improvement as well as mentoring and leadership training for coaches and staff. The name embodies our mission and the purpose of the E.A.G.L.E. Campaign - Eagle Athletics Generating Lifetime Excellence. Join Our Team and pledge your gift today to help the Eagles of tomorrow!
 
#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events in November and April to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.
 
ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 85 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 13+ seasons at the Division I level. Additionally, in just nine seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 40 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. Eight FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport - including women's basketball (No. 21, 2020-21), beach volleyball (No. 20, 2021) and both men's soccer (2018, 2019) and women's soccer (2018) as four of the most recent. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best sixth-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. In 2018-19, the Eagles had an ASUN and state of Florida best seven teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.50 GPA in the classroom in the fall 2020 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for 23 consecutive semesters. The 2019 Fall, 2020 Spring, and 2020 Fall semesters each saw another milestone reached as all 15 programs achieved a 3.0-or-higher team GPA. The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours in 2017 - being recognized as one of two runners-up for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.
 
--FGCUATHLETICS.COM--