Geller Garners Senior Scholar Athlete Recognition

TOWSON, Md. — Goucher's Hugh Geller (Devens, Mass./Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School) was recognized as the Landmark Conference Senior Scholar Athlete for men's cross country this morning, becoming the second Gopher this fall and 12th overall to receive the award.

To qualify for the award, recipients must have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.20. Award winners are selected by a committee of Landmark Conference officers, athletic directors and sports information directors.

Geller was a three-year member of the cross country squad, rejoining the team and serving as a captain this year after spending the 2012-13 academic year studying abroad at the prestigious University of Oxford in England. As a runner, Geller took nearly three and a half minutes off of his personal best 8K time from his freshman to his senior seasons.

During his senior campaign, Geller posted a 28:56.30 at the Landmark Championships on Nov. 2, which placed him 23rd overall at the meet and which was briefly his new personal best time. Two weeks later, he concluded his cross country career by demolishing that time, recording a 28:07.00 at the Mideast Regional Championship in Bethlehem, Pa.

Geller has also had tremendous success academically. A two-time fall Landmark Academic Honor Roll member, and a member of the conference's All-Academic team in 2011, Geller currently has a 3.81 grade-point average as a mathematics major. He has earned a spot on the Dean's List three times at Goucher, and is a member of Pi Mu Epsilon (math honors society) and Chi Alpha Sigma (athletics honor society).

While studying at Oxford, Geller completed 50 credits with a GPA of 3.98. He is the president of the Math and Computer Science Club at Goucher, is a two-year member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and has served as a supplemental instructor since 2011. Geller also has an extensive background in dance production, having performed either ballet or modern dance in each semester at Goucher.

Geller joins fellow cross country runner Kathryn Walker as Goucher's two Senior Scholar Athlete recipients this year. The cross country program has now accounted for five of Goucher's 12 scholar athletes since the Gophers joined the Landmark Conference in 2007.

The Landmark Conference selects 20 senior scholar athletes each year to recognize the top student-athlete in each sport based on academics and athletics. Out of the six winners from the fall season, Goucher was the only school to have multiple athletes honored.