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.

Main image: George Hurtt receives the Outstanding Support for Geography Education Award from NCGE President Celeste Reynolds on Oct. 16 in Richmond, Virginia. Photo courtesy of Hurtt.

Published on Thu, Oct 22, 2026 - 11:34AM