Senior Aidan Geller Chooses University of Tampa

Huntington senior Aidan Geller is headed to the University of Tampa. The teenager finalized his decision after carefully considering his options and weighing his current and future plans and interests.

“Tampa has always felt like my home away from home,” Mr. Geller said. “We’ve traveled there often to see family and for Yankees spring training games. Visiting the University of Tampa campus for the first time, I felt immediately at ease. The mix of historical and new buildings on campus and the rapidly expanding offerings of the university were instantly appealing. And the great weather certainly didn’t hurt my decision.”

The senior said he had a lot of choices based upon his acceptance at “so many other great universities” but that in the end, Tampa became his first choice for numerous reasons.

“I was accepted into the honors program and the exclusive Spartan Undergraduate Research Program (SURE), which helped solidify my decision to attend UT,” Mr. Geller said. “The honors program will give me new cultural and academic opportunities like concerts and guest lectures. I will also have an opportunity to study abroad at Oxford University. SURE will allow me to conduct specialized research one-on-one with a UT professor on my path toward completing my undergraduate honors thesis.”

The senior’s academic grade average exceeds 100. “By challenging myself academically at Huntington High School through college level coursework in Advanced Placement Environmental Science, AP Seminar and AP Research, I expect to major in environmental studies or marine sciences at UT,” Mr. Geller said. After college and graduate school, I plan to pursue a career in environmental consulting or business.”

One of the highlights of the past five years for the teenager has been his membership in the Huntington Blue Devil marching band. “I made so many lifelong friends and worked hard to contribute to the band’s success since eighth grade,” Mr. Geller said. “Additionally, my volunteer work as president of the high school’s Interact Club has created several opportunities for me, including becoming a charter member of the Rotary Environmental Action Coalition of Huntington (REACH). Through Interact Club and REACH, last month I presented a research poster at the Resilient Long Island Symposium detailing my presentation in a pilot program to remediate coastal water quality.”

Mr. Geller said that from his first days as a kindergartener at Washington Primary School to late in his senior year, his time in Huntington UFSD classrooms has been among the best experiences of his life. “My academics, extracurricular activities and social experiences have shaped me into the person that I am today,” he said.

With about two months remaining prior to graduation, Mr. Geller has been reflecting on what he will always remember about being a Blue Devil.

“As a Blue Devil for life, I will always remember the diverse student body; my amazing teachers; the supportive community and the Blue Devil spirit,” Mr. Geller said.