Ron Barnett and Carol Motsinger

USA TODAY

CLEMSON, S.C. — A Clemson University student fell to his death from the radar platform of a cruise ship at the end of a voyage to reward young entrepreneurs.

Kendall Wernet, 20, of the Asheville, N.C., suburb of Arden, died at about 8:30 a.m. ET Monday, according to the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner's Office. He was the second Clemson student to die in the past week.

Wernet had been on an awards cruise for Macomb, Mich.-based Student Painters, the company's owner, Steve Acorn, said Tuesday. A group of five or six climbed up on the platform as the Carnival Ecstasy returned to port at the end of a three-day cruise.

"They had seen a group up there the night before and thought it would be a good idea to go there at about 5 a.m. to see the sun rise over Miami," he said. No drinking was involved.

"They were up there talking ... and the radar system went on," Acorn said. "Based on where you were standing, it caught Kendall and threw him down."

When the propeller caught Wernet, he fell about 20 feet, the equivalent of two decks of the ship, Miami-Dade County police said.

The area was restricted, Carnival officials said at the time of the incident. Medical crew aboard the ship cared for Wernet's injuries until he could be transported to a South Florida hospital where he later was pronounced dead from a blunt-trauma head injury.

"Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends, and we stand ready to help them through this difficult time," said Shannon Finning, Clemson's dean of students.

On Sept. 22, the body of student Tucker Hipps was found in Lake Hartwell, which adjoins campus, after a fraternity run. That death remains under investigation.

Miami police said they did not find any evidence of foul play in Wernet's death.

"This was a group of elite college kids who choose to work 80 hours a week" during the summers, Acorn said. Wernet had started with the company in summer 2013 as a branch manager and was promoted this past summer to district manager, teaching seven to nine new students how to run a Student Painters franchise.

Wernet was on the company's awards cruise last year, too, Acorn said.

"He was a huge part of our success," Acorn said. "Kendall was one of those kids that if you had a daughter you'd want her to find Kendall."

Wernet was a junior majoring in business management with a minor in accounting, Clemson University spokesman John Gouch said.

Four months ago, he and two friends at Clemson started a company called The Driven Vision to help young professionals.

"Kendall had a way with people and customers that was God given and not learned," said Nicholas Dalpiaz, a brother of one of Wernet's partners in The Driven Vision. "We both admired that. He was such a nice guy. And I wish I had a better word than nice, but Kendall carried a smile every time I saw him."

On The Driven Vision website, Wernet recent reflected on the death of actor and comedian Robin Williams:

This got me thinking: How will the world react when I die? Will my face be on the news? Will people say it was a terrible occurrence? What will they remember about me?

Ask yourself these same questions.

Suddenly, you start to get this weird feeling inside of you that makes you question what you are doing with your life. Because, the truth is that we all want to make a difference and leave a mark on this world. We want to be remembered.

Ron Barnett also reports for The Greenville (S.C.) News; Carol Motsinger also reports for the Asheville (N.C.) Citizen-Times. Contributing: Linda Dono, USA TODAY; The Associated Press.