Senior Profile: Ross Stauder

Amelia Hurley, features + in-depth editor| June 4, 2020

Ross Stauder, senior, will be attending Colorado State University to study computer sciences.

Ross Stauder always thought he’d been the odd one in the group. He grew up thinking about the big picture, not what grade he got on his multiplication test. While everyone in his third-grade class wanted to be astronauts or musicians, Stauder wanted to be an inventor.

“My whole life, I’ve been a critical thinker,” Stauder, senior, said. “Science is our base of knowledge, but humans have to hypothesize what the world is. That’s why I love philosophy so much. Everything is always changing.”

Stauder said he has been passionate about abnormal topics since elementary school. Still, he decided not to major in philosophy during college.

“If a philosophy degree offered more, I’d pursue it,” Stauder said. “Instead, I’m majoring in computer science so I can eventually be my [own] boss someday.”

Jonah Roy, Stauder’s friend, said they talk often about unique philosophical ideas, such as the Big Bang theory and black holes. Roy described Stauder as driven, supportive and unstoppable.

“Ross is the most intelligent individual I’ve met in my life,” Roy said. “We can talk for hours about complex topics, which [aren’t things] I normally talk about. He is someone you can talk to forever and never get bored.”

Adam Rowland, English teacher, taught Stauder in philosophy class during his senior year. Rowland described him as one of the most driven students he’s ever met.

“Ross is a brilliant young man who is talented in many areas,” Rowland said. “[He] was always ahead of the [course, and] would even bring in books from home to show to the class. He could have taught it if he wanted to.”

As Stauder’s journey through KSD comes to an end, he has often reflected on his overall philosophy of high school. He hopes students can look past grades and focus on the big picture of what to learn at KHS.

“High school isn’t really about learning different kinds of math or history,” Stauder said. “It’s more about learning how to be an individual. High school shows you your true potential. You need to open your mind so you can [succeed].”