Building Confidence One Robot at a Time

Kristine Le ’25 got bitten by the robotics bug in high school—but not because she had plans to become an engineer.

She was a dancer until a back injury sidelined her in her first year at Lexington High School in Massachusetts. When her brother suggested she join the school’s first all-girls robotics team instead, Le wasn’t quite sure what to expect.

What she experienced was a sense of empowerment. “It was my team’s feeling of welcome that really helped me,” Le says. “They took the time to hear my ideas, and they made me feel valued. They taught me how to build, how to mess up, and how to put things back together. I fell in love with robotics.”

At Smith, Le has found ways to share that passion. In her first semester, she wrote a successful proposal to the Jandon Center for Community Engagement for a Robotics Outreach Initiative that organizes teams of students to create robotics programs for learners of all ages in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Participants have built robots from scratch and led them through obstacle courses. In addition to K–12 schools, community partners have included the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holyoke, the Geek Is Glam STEM Expo, the People’s Science Fair, and the Girl Scouts.

In the fall, Le—a biochemistry major and Jandon Activist Fellow—helped her team lead a seven-week Lego robotics program for fourth graders at Southampton Road Elementary School in Westfield, Massachusetts. Smith students chosen for the Jandon Center’s fellowship program receive a stipend while working with a community partner organization.

On a recent morning, Le sat at a worktable in the Jandon Center. In a lull between team meetings, she shared her thoughts about what makes STEM outreach so special.

What was it about robotics that first drew you in?
It wasn’t the robotics but the people that drew me in—they made me feel seen. There was an idea board, and we’d spend time in silence coming up with solutions. It was a super open way to share ideas. Robotics taught me to think in a 3D way, to problem-solve. We also did a lot of outreach events, and it was really rewarding to see the way girls’ eyes would light up seeing other girls doing robotics.

How has the Robotics Outreach Initiative evolved since you helped launch the program in 2021?
Our intention is not necessarily to convince participants to be engineers but to build a sense of self-efficacy in STEM, to build confidence. The program is holistic—it encompasses the building of robots, coding, circuitry, and the engineering process. Our first year was all about workshops and tabling events. In the fall of 2022, we did our first long-term program with Springfield Prep [Charter School], where students built and programmed robots from scratch. The following fall, we extended to an eight-week program. We’ve had great experiences in these schools because the teachers are so passionate and care so much. Our team now consists of 12 students, including co-leads Chon-sa Cardona ’25 and Kimberly By Goytia ’26, STEAM outreach coordinator Asli Ali ’22, and engineering professor Kevin Huang.

What have you learned from your experience with the program?
I’ve learned what it means to be a community organizer and what it takes to really do community engagement. It’s important to come at this from a humble stance; it’s a partnership. And you have to be adaptable. Working with all types of learners, you have to adjust how you talk and teach. Sometimes, you just have to ditch the worksheets!

How has the robotics initiative shaped your own plans for the future?
I can’t imagine my life moving forward without community engagement. I love having a direct connection with the community. I’m looking at graduate schools now, and I always ask them about their engagement. The robotics outreach program is a group effort of the student team, the community partners, and the Jandon Center. The center took a chance on me and funded my proposal. That’s what I love about Smith: You have an idea and a passion, and they’ll support you.