NW Missouri Times

From his involvement in student organizations to being named Homecoming king, Darren Ross credits the Northwest Missouri State University community for leaving a lasting impression on him. After completing his bachelor's degree in computer science this spring, Ross plans to continue his education at Northwest as a graduate student.

"Everybody is welcome no matter where you go, and I feel like that’s why I stayed involved on campus," Ross said.

Ross's accolades at Northwest include receiving the First-Generation Student Achievement Award. He served as president of the Minority Men’s Organization and was an active member of the African Student Organization. Additionally, he participated in activities with the Black Student Union and frequently attended various campus events. His roles extended to being a student ambassador, a teaching assistant for courses in programming, foundations of computing, and secure programming, as well as serving as inclusion co-chair.

"This is one of those moments where I say ‘Hey, I have impacted a lot of people on campus enough to where they think I’m Homecoming king’," Ross said. "I think it does reflect how I impacted the campus and how many people I touched, so I really do appreciate the campus for allowing me to be recognized."

A native of St. Louis, Ross appreciated Northwest's smaller campus size and chose the school because of its computer science program.

"I was always curious about problem-solving and how things work," Ross said. "When I was younger, I used to try and take apart game controllers. I used to search things online about how a computer actually works, and as I got older it just never faded away."

During his freshman and sophomore years, Ross interned with Clayco in St. Louis as a software developer. As a junior, he secured a consulting job with Protiviti, where he gained experience in business technology and cybersecurity.

Crystal Combs, an instructor of computer science and information systems who met Ross during his first year at Northwest when he enrolled in her programming course, praised him for his high participation and achievement.

"Darren is a truly outstanding young man," Combs said. "He has touched the lives of so many people at Northwest Missouri State University. If you work at Northwest or attend as a student, chances are you have met Darren and you understand what an inspiring young man he is. If you haven’t had the opportunity to meet him, seek him out. He will inspire you to be the best version of yourself."

Ross acknowledged Combs's influence on his decision to pursue graduate studies at Northwest.

"She encouraged me not only to just say 'Hey, it’s one more year,' but also just to get more out of my education," Ross said. "I thank her again for encouraging me."

Ross will pursue his master’s degree through an accelerated applied computer science program with long-term goals including becoming a software developer for solutions companies in entertainment or automotive markets.

"All of the people and members of this campus are truly remarkable resources," Ross said. "They are helping me along the way to become a better person in all ways shape and form...I really want to thank Northwest for changing me that way."