Even before his first semester at UToledo, Geoff Howles said he was drawn to the future of UToledo running.
“I began running competitively in seventh grade and continued throughout high school,” Howles said. “Running at the collegiate level became a major goal of mine, and that ultimately brought me to UToledo as I was recruited to run cross country here in 2020.”
CELEBRATING SUCCESS: UToledo recognizes the Class of 2024 with a series of stories featuring students receiving their degrees at fall commencement.
Howles, now set to graduate Dec. 14 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, ran through three years of his time at UToledo, working hard to support the Toledo men’s cross country team.
This culminated in the team’s win at the 2024 Mid-American Conference championship earlier in November.
“The win was a full-circle moment that is truly a testament to all the amazing teammates, coaches and staff that I’ve been surrounded by the last four years,” Howles said. “The people make the place, and UToledo has become a second home to me.”
Tito Medrano, associate head coach of the men’s cross country team, said Howles is the epitome of a team player.
“Geoff is always putting his teammates first and fostering a culture of unity and positivity,” Medrano said. “His steady mindset and relaxed demeanor set a calming tone for the team, while his unwavering positive energy lifts everyone during even the toughest practices. Geoff’s coachability and dedication to improvement make him a joy to work with, and his genuine care for his teammates goes beyond the track. Balancing hard work in both athletics and academics, he exemplifies the values of perseverance, humility, and excellence that define Toledo Cross Country.”
In between working hard for UToledo Cross-Country, Howles navigated between majors, unsure early on of his career goals.
Geoff Howles has a full-time position at Owens Corning’s Supply Chain & Sourcing Leadership Development Program after his Dec. 14 graduation.
“I was undecided entering college and switched my major multiple times early on,” he said. “During this uncertain period, I narrowed my interest down to business. I loved the balance of both analytical ‘hard’ skills and people-oriented ‘soft’ skills the career required. This is the reason I ultimately landed on operations and supply chain management.”
Howles has set himself up for success in the business field with a full-time position at Owens Corning’s Supply Chain & Sourcing Leadership Development Program upon graduation.
Howles said there were many people at UToledo who helped him along his academic and athletic journeys.
“I’ll miss all the people that made my experience here so memorable,” he said. “From faculty and classmates to coaches and teammates, I was truly surrounded by incredible people every day.”
