Professor George Hurtt Honored for High School Outreach
The NCGE award recognizes Hurtt’s leadership in building the High School Hub into a multifaceted educational program.
The National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE) awarded Professor George Hurtt of the Department of Geographical Sciences (GEOG) the Outstanding Support for Geography Education Award during the NCGE Annual Conference on Oct. 16 in Richmond, Virginia. The award honors individuals who work outside of the formal classroom and make outstanding contributions to geography education.
Hurtt received the award for developing outreach programs that introduce high school students to geographical sciences and demonstrate how the field can help address real-world environmental and societal changes.
“Receiving this award is an incredible honor,” Hurtt said. “It is a meaningful testament to the innovative programs that we developed to help inspire and support the next generation in geographical sciences at UMD. It is inspiring that the success of these programs has rippled to national attention.”
What began as an annual recognition banquet for high school students, launched by Hurtt in 2022, has since grown into GEOG’s High School Hub. The initiative now includes multiple programs that have provided more than 350 high school students with opportunities to explore geography. Through a series of activities (see below), students with strong academic aptitude are recognized for their achievements, learn about educational and career opportunities in geographical sciences and gain access to campus experiences and paid research opportunities.
This infographic outlines the High School Hub's four-step pathway from the recognition banquet and summer programs to GIS Day and UMD application support.
The programs also help students understand how geography extends beyond traditional maps to incorporate remote sensing, computer technologies and other tools to address challenges such as climate change, deforestation, biodiversity loss, food security and natural disasters.
“At a time when undergraduate departments and programs around the country are struggling to reverse negative enrollment trends, NCGE identified our outstanding model for outreach and recruitment,” Hurtt said.
Department Chair Tatiana Loboda said the High School Hub has become one of the department’s most successful outreach efforts, strengthening connections with regional schools while creating opportunities for faculty and graduate students to engage with the local community.
“What has impressed me most is that George has built something that continues to grow,” Loboda said in her letter supporting Hurtt’s nomination. “Students who first came to us through the High School Hub have gone on to apply to the University of Maryland and pursue geography and related fields. That is exactly the kind of sustained impact we had hoped the program would achieve.”
Faculty specialist Janna Chapman, who provides administrative and research support for Hurtt, also manages the High School Hub programs. She attended the awards ceremony alongside Hurtt.
“It was inspiring to see how invested each of the award winners was in encouraging K-12 and college student involvement in geography,” Chapman said. “I hope I can contribute to this goal in my career.”
Hurtt said the ceremony reinforced both the progress the department has made and the opportunities ahead.
“We have accomplished a lot, and yet have so much more potential ahead to build upon, improve and multiply these opportunities,” he said.
Video: NCGE President-Elect John Scott Greene announces George Hurtt as the recipient of the Outstanding Support for Geography Education Award.
Main image: George Hurtt receives the Outstanding Support for Geography Education Award from NCGE President Celeste Reynolds on Oct. 16 in Richmond, Virginia.
Photo and video courtesy of Hurtt
Published on Tue, 10/20/2026 - 12:45