Share your cool hobby with us!

May 06, 2025

Check out this month’s hobby submissions. For a chance to be featured in an upcoming issue, submit your name, title, a photo of your hobby and a few sentences about your hobby and why you decided to pursue it to newsletter@fgcu.edu.

John O’Connell | Environmental Science Instructor, Department of Ecology and Environmental Studies

“When I'm not busy as an FGCU environmental science instructor, a husband and a father to two amazing daughters, I enjoy taking photographs of the natural wonders around us. I am most known for landscape and astrophotography, but I also enjoy macro, wildlife and other types of outdoor photography. I enjoy integrating my photographs into my classroom slideshows to further my students' appreciation of our fantastic setting in Southwest Florida. I also often take portraits of my students when we go on wet walks in the campus cypress dome. I am working with some students to create a photography registered student organization (RSO) in the future, in hopes of helping more students enjoy and excel at this art form.”

A coastal scene at night with the Sanibel Lighthouse in the background. The sky is clear and filled with stars, including the Milky Way galaxy prominently visible. In the foreground, the mangroves are along the shoreline, with some branches extending over the water. The lighthouse is illuminated, casting light into the night sky. Mangrove under the Milkyway and Sanibel Lighthouse. Photo by John O’Connell

Amanda Inscore Whittamore | Multimedia Journalist, WGCU

“I started gymnastics at 8 years old, quit in high school to run track, and then I competed on the club gymnastics team in college at UNC (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill). After college, I moved to Florida and didn’t think too much about gymnastics until after I had my second son. I used to take my boys to the toddler open gym at Gymnastic World in Fort Myers. The manager there started an adult gymnastics class that met once a month, and I loved it. After a few years, I began taking private lessons once a week. It’s my happy place. A place where I can just be me and escape from the rest of life’s responsibilities. I’m 46 and going strong. It’s a great way to get exercise and stay strong and agile.”

Amanda Whittamore is performing a handstand on a rocky surface near the Green River in North Carlina. Large boulders and lush green trees are in the background. Amanda Inscore Whittamore performs a cartwheel during a hike along the Green River near Saluda, North Carolina.

Jim Hehl | Associate Vice President, Physical Plant

“I started helping my dad in the garage when I was a kid, growing up in Michigan restoring old cars. It became a lifelong passion, which he had and passed on to me. We did several cars, some of which became part of my collection, having recently converted the black 1940 Ford Coupe into a street rod. The iconic 1940 Ford Woody Wagon was built from a barn-find restoration, and the 1965 Chevelle Malibu is my daily driver that has a 500-horsepower powerplant under the hood, which gets me to and from campus in no time at all!”

A classic maroon and wood-paneled 1940 Ford Woody Wagon on a paved area at FGCU’s Library Lawn is in front of large, blue and green letters spelling "FGCU." The background includes trees and a clear blue sky. 1940 Ford Woody Wagon