My name is Caoilin Krathaus
(Kay-lin Krat-hows)
I am a freshman studying Engineering at the University of Washington and recent graduate from Carnegie Vanguard High School in Houston, TX. I strive to be cross-disciplinary – integrating STEM, Design, Art, and Activism to tackle complex issues in our changing social and cultural environment.
Involvement not mentioned in Work
D1 Rowing at UW
See details: Important part of Rowing
I’ve been raised under the idea that “Water=Life”. For me, water isn’t just for us to survive, but to thrive. Before I even turned 1, I was sitting in an ocean kayak and splashing in the silty water off the shores of the Gulf of Mexico at Padre Island National Seashore. Kayaking, whether on the the concrete lined Houston Bayous or the Rio Grande at Big Bend, is an escape to a quiet, flat body of water, away from the daily bustle of life. Kayaking offers a new experience of the world where the ground below me is an ever-changing, fluctuating liquid. The paddle is an extension of my arm, a tool to help me glide through the water and maneuver around turtles and hanging branches. In Houston’s dense metropolis the bayous offer an oasis to see the unseen animals dependent on it’s murky waters. Turtles, fish, egrets, homeless encampments, old
In senior year I started crew to continue my love of being on the water. After a couple months of practice at Rowing Club of the Woodlands with my coaches Joe Flynn and Gary Godfrey, we won 5th at Nationals in our 2V quad. Through this physically and mentally challenging experience, I learned the power of grit, extreme discipline, and most importantly, the power of the team and my girls. Many of us like to say that the true difficulty of the sport is not the time you put into it or the physical pain, but the mental barriers you have to break to perform with your highest potential. I’ve learned a lot about myself through this beautiful sport, and I am excited to continue on throughout college.
Crew at the University of Washington has been exhilarating, tough (but the good tough), and even a bit intimidating at times, but I have loved every second of it.
- Joined Rowing Club of the Woodlands summer camp the summer before senior year and was recruited for the team that Fall
- Attended rowing practice at Lake Woodlands (1 hour away) for 6 days a week throughout the school year
- Gold in novice quad and Bronze in the varsity 8 boat at Pumpkinhead Regatta (Austin) that October
- Gold in novice double at Heart of Texas Regatta that February (Austin)
- Gold in 2V quad and Gold in novice double at Regionals in OKC that May
- Won 5th 2V Quad in the country at USRowing Youth Nationals 2024 in June (Florida)
- Recruited to row for University of Washington
- Attend UW Practice 20 hrs a week
Vex Robotics in High School
See details: Important part of Robotics
Robotics Club was truly an inspiring and character building moment for me. Through this experience, I not only gained valuable insights into mechanical systems and design processes but also found talented and brilliant friends for life. I am grateful for carving out a place for myself in a traditionally male-dominated club, the confidence I gained in doing so, and the welcomeness of my peers. During my first year, we got to attend and compete at VEX Robotics 2023 Worlds. This was a super cool experience to intermingle with international teams and creative people and inventions.
I was the main tool bearer/user of the team since I have many tools at my disposal from my family design business (see “My Background” description) and became a mentor and educator for younger members.
- Member of the robotics team for my school
- Competed in Robotics 2023 Worlds Competition
- Main Fabricator and tool leader
Carnegie Community Voices for Public Education in High School
At CCVPE, I utilized my activism experience in Elementary and Middle School and with the help of a couple of passionate friends, burst into action on saving our school district (Houston ISD) from getting “taken over” by the State of Texas. We organized school-wide walkouts, presentations on Texas education issues, and attended and spoke at press conferences with politicians and city leaders.
Internship for British Consulate at SXSW in Austin, TX
See details: Important part of SXSW
In junior (and senior) year I landed an internship for the British Consulate at SXSW.
It was like somebody dropped me in the future. Here I was, in a black velvety ballroom, surrounded by people whose eyes were covered by chunky boxes and wired up in booths resembling detective offices, alien worlds, and spaceships. During my internships at SXSW, I roamed the streets of Austin and discovered the different technologies and keynotes SXSW had to offer. I was fascinated. There was talk of AI’s impact on every part of society, how companies planned to utilize it, the future of the metaverse, and using AR to make 3D live modeling more accessible.
At each booth, I saw the surface level of these products but was eager and determined to unravel the nitty gritty of their complicated engineering and ideas. I introduced myself to the founders of successful XR companies and artists utilizing tech to create interactive and impactful work. I asked questions about every step of their production process and how they started their companies. I saw a side of the tech industry I had never encountered before – the startup side, a side overflowing with passion and raw ideas. This experience reinforced the power of technology and the evolving impact it has on society. I then realized that my next steps in design must integrate with technology – my CS and AI journey had only just taken flight.
- Attended SXSW for 3 years, interned for 2
- Assisted event organizer with tasks throughout the event: Bouncer and setting up event stage and venue
- Networked with British and American CEOs and founders of creative tech companies that are creating cutting-edge immersive and UX-based technology (made lots of friends!)
- Planning on continuing this internship every year
My Background
I live on the line in between. Where maximalism fuels my creativity and minimalism is my structure. The basic rules of design – no stacked type, never go over 72 characters per line, palette is powerful, etc. – are fundamental in my household and have been instilled in me since day one.
The weeds of art and design have cradled me in a household of makers, designers, artists, environmentalists, activists, and intellectuals. I’m used to the piles of typography, architecture, and theoretical science books and the impact driver left on the handmade coffee table surrounded by loose screws and ideas. Memorizing typefaces by ten and learning Adobe Illustrator by nine, I have learned the power of great design and Mies Van Der Rohe’s “less is more” quote from my mother. My father, a sculptor who runs our design business with my mom, has instilled in me a sense of curiosity for how the world works through history, science, and engineering while also showing me how to channel this knowledge into art and expression. From him, I became a welder by 13 and a tinkerer and nerd for life. My second home has always been their design studio and warehouse, with a “clean side” full of computers, printers, and laser cutters, and a “dirty side” with power tools, a CNC, a woodworking area, and a welding station. This environment has allowed me to weave these weeds into the fabric of who I am and the work I love to do.
I work in my parents’ studio a lot, building exhibits, critiquing work, learning, and designing bits and pieces.
Check it out for yourself: