It isn’t art or poetry that comes to mind for Gonzaga student Joe Stauss (’16) when he talks about the kind of beauty that inspires him every day – it’s more like formulas and inequalities.
“The aesthetics of mathematics inspire me,” said Stauss. “Mathematical beauty is difficult to define but is an amazing experience. As a creative exercise, it is one of the most rewarding things to do.” He shares his passion for numbers with local schoolchildren as a tutor every Saturday morning and said of the experience, “It feels good to show them that math isn’t as scary as it seems.”
Originally from Los Gatos, Calif., Stauss is one of six children in his family. In addition to his love of math, he enjoys being outdoors – a passion he put to work during the summer as a mountain guide in Alaska. He is currently majoring in computer engineering with a minor in mathematics, but is considering a switch to get his degree in mathematics with minors in computer science and physics.
Stauss isn’t sure yet where his love of math will take him, but he is especially excited that exploring his passions is being supported by the generosity of others.
“My scholarship means four years of quality education in a field that interests me at an institution run by a group that strives for excellence in all that they do,” said Stauss. “I can’t imagine a scholarship that means more.”
If you would like to support a student like Joe, visit gonzaga.edu/giveonline to make a gift to the Zag Scholarship Fund.