Building kids, not just robots — why robotics matters in Alamance County.
By James Love
When most people think of sports, they picture packed stadiums, roaring crowds, and dreams of going pro. But the reality is stark: only 8.1% of high school baseball players advance to the NCAA, and from there just 5.1% reach the major leagues — an overall 0.4% chance. For basketball and football, the odds are even slimmer, and if players make it ,professional careers average only 3–5 years. And yet, despite these realities, parents across Alamance County (and the United States) are continuing to encourage their children to pursue traditional athletics. Isn't there a sport where the success rates are higher?
That’s where programs like FIRST Robotics come in. Founded by inventor Dean Kamen, FIRST emphasizes two key values — Gracious Professionalism and Coopertition — which push students to work hard, innovate, and support one another while competing.
In Alamance County, Mr. Krauss has taken that mission to heart. A third-generation engineer, industry veteran, and now leader of a green-tech startup, he has turned his passion for problem-solving and teaching into a movement that is shaping the next generation of leaders.
Mr. Krauss and I took a moment to talk about his journey, his family, and why robotics may be one of the most important investments our community can make.
Interview with Mr. Krauss
Mr. Krauss (MK): I’m the grandson of German immigrants, and a third-generation Ph.D. in engineering — my father was the first, then my grandfather after he retired. I’ve worked for Dow Chemical, IBM, and SquareD — all massive companies — and now I’m part of a startup called PRTI. Our goal is to save the planet from waste tires, turning them back into diesel fuel oil, carbon, and steel while minimizing impact on the environment.
JL: Are robots a part of your family history?
MK: Not really--the only robotics touchpoint that I can think of is my father who taught at a community college in Michigan where the auto industry is big. He started a course to train technicians to work with assembly line robots and even had a lab for it. Robots are certainly part of our family now!
JL: Why robotics?
MK: I have three sons who learn better by doing than by sitting in class. I love solving problems with sound technical fundamentals and math — and I love teaching. I pour way too much time into creating a safe, constructive environment (the team's build space and shop in Holly Hill Mall) where students can get off their phones, develop socially, learn how to use tools, and build systems that solve problems. That way they can learn, grow, and flourish.
[And] one thing led to another, like stepping stones across a river. My oldest son joined a robotics team at his high school. After two years, we formed our own team. Once you go to a competition and feel the excitement, you get hooked. Students work hard building a robot, and then they discover competitions are really--at heart--a celebration of their hard work together and not a matter of winning or losing individual matches. One parent told me they went to a Panthers game and later to a robotics competition — and said robotics was far more exciting. Plus, you don’t have to pay to get in.
JL: Why is it important for Alamance County to embrace robotics?
MK: Our goal is to develop confident students with top-notch, practical skills. Robotics is a tool toward that end. The way FIRST runs competitions makes robotics fun, which motivates teams to meet deadlines and iterate on designs. The motivation comes from within the students — not adults — and that’s powerful.
But robotics also teaches systems: electrical, mechanical, structural, software, and automation engineering. Look at medicine, transportation, agriculture, retail, and food service — automation is everywhere. Alamance County, with its farmland, transportation hubs, warehouses, and growing medical needs, is going to require skilled local talent.
What makes FIRST special is that it blends engineering with business: human resources, conflict resolution, finance, marketing, branding, presentations. Those skills are just as critical for our county’s future as technical skills.
Final Thoughts
Mr. Krauss’s story reminds us that while professional sports may capture headlines, it’s education, innovation, and teamwork that build lasting careers and communities. Robotics in Alamance County isn’t just about machines — it’s about preparing young people for a future where automation, creativity, and leadership will shape every industry.
Or, as Dean Kamen once said: “We’re not using kids to build robots. We’re using robots to build kids.”
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