Hundreds of people gathered at Progreso High School on Thursday to honor a 17-year-old student who drowned in a canal.

The memorial procession, called "Samuel's Last Ride," was held near Red Ant Stadium. Friends, family, teammates, and community members came out to say goodbye to Samuel Hernandez.

"The family appreciates everybody's prayers and concerns, and they're just thankful that we're able to do this," Progreso ISD School Board Member Agapito Perez Jr. said.

The Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office says Hernandez drowned in a canal near Mile 1 West and Mile 10 North near Mercedes. Investigators say he was fishing with friends on Sunday when a fishing line got stuck in the water.

Hernandez jumped into the canal to try to free it but struggled to stay afloat before going underwater multiple times. A Texas Department of Public Safety dive team found his body the next morning.

READ MORE: Questions raised over security at canal near Mercedes following teen's drowning

Hernandez was a junior and quarterback for Progreso High School.

"He was a great kid, a great athlete, a great sense of humor, always positive, always a smile, beautiful smile all the time," Progreso ISD School Board President Juan J. Ramos said.

A chicken plate sale was also held to help the Hernandez family pay for funeral expenses. Organizers say all 1,800 plates were sold.

"We all came together as a community, bringing barbecue pits, getting people to donate the chicken, the sides. All the community was giving calls to the school district and volunteering on their own," Ramos said.

Ramos also called on the nonprofit RGV Wings of Hope to help the family with funeral expenses.

"We immediately jumped into the things we needed to do to assist the family," RGV Wings of Hope Board President Eloy de Leon said.

De Leon explained they assist families who experience the loss of a school-aged child. De Leon says they've already made arrangements with a funeral home to take that financial burden from the family.

"The family was very thankful. We're very grateful that we're able to offer this type of service," de Leon said.

District leaders say events like the memorial are also helping students cope with the loss. Counseling services remain available for students and staff through next week.

Funeral services for Hernandez are scheduled for this weekend in Weslaco.

Click here for details on Hernandez's funeral services.

A GoFundMe campaign was set up for Hernandez’s family. Click here to donate.

Counseling services are available for students. 

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