Worcester’s Greatest Avenger is a Real Iron Woman

Marvel Comics may have the Avengers, but the Worcester community has Betty Lauer. The soft-spoken powerhouse professor at Quinsigamond Community College, has been introducing robotics and technology education to hundreds of students in the Worcester Public Schools (WPS) and QCC for the last 18 years. The difference she has made in the lives of virtually every student she has encountered is immeasurable.

Professor Lauer’s passion for bringing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and computer science opportunities to underserved students, is legendary. In 2006, she began building an after-school K-12 robotics program in the WPS that has become the largest after-school program in the school system. The program helps students learn about technology, work as a team, and develop leadership skills. Students build robots that they use to compete in local robotics competitions, and in some instances, national and world competitions.  She also hosts a yearly summer camp for middle and lower level high school students, as well as soliciting used computer equipment from area companies to refurbish and give to students who don’t have computers of their own. Ms. Lauer has become one of the Commonwealth’s super heroes, dedicating her life to making technology education accessible to all.

“I’m all about helping underserved students to make it possible for them to obtain careers they might otherwise be shut out of. It’s part of the whole STEM world and once they get hooked, they get hooked,” she said. “It’s part of our responsibility because these are our students of the future.”

One example of success in the WPS K-12 robotics program is the Burncoat Middle School (BMS) K-12 robotics program. The school recently returned from Louisville, Kentucky where the students competed in the Vex Robotics World Championship. According to BMS Coach and Science Department Head, Stephen Rapa, the middle school had been in QCC Robotics competitions since Ms. Lauer introduced the program to the school in 2007. BMS had previously built an affiliation with QCC and Ms. Lauer through a program called Robotics and Project-Base Learning through Engineering Design (2006-2007 school year); however, funding for the program was limited and it only lasted a year.

“Betty had approached BMS a short time later and said she would help us start a VEX Robotics Program.

Through her support, the program grew and we have participated in every event offered by QCC including the Women in Science program,” Mr. Rapa said. “Our QCC sponsored programs are offered to any interested student as an after-school activity, including students who are faced with emotional and/or physical challenges. The robotics and technology programs continue to grow, sparking interest in the sciences and math for our middle school students. The programs that Betty has offered to public and private schools, have given direction to many young students.”

QCC has also played an integral role in the WPS robotics after-school program since its inception, hosting competitions at its main campus each year. Students who are part of the competition become familiar with QCC and many end up attending the college once they have completed high school.

“QCC Robotics programs have had the biggest positive effect on our students. Many have gone on into the engineering, science, and math fields because of their experience with these programs. Many have also attended QCC to continue with robotics and study engineering and computer sciences,” said Mr. Rapa. “The whole experience has given my students new confidence to tackle problem-solving and excitedly work together to find solutions to engineering design problems.”

Ms. Lauer was also able to assist Bristol Community College (BCC) in starting its own Vex robotics program through funding from the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education.

“They do what we do,” she said, noting that the college now regularly hosts Vex Robotics competitions similar to those at QCC.

For the last 16 summer, Ms. Lauer has also hosted a camp that’s offered to middle school and high school freshmen and sophomores. Acknowledging that many parents cannot afford to send their children to summer camp, Ms. Lauer put together the technology-driven camp to meet a need she saw in the community. The camp, which is held on QCC’s main campus, has had anywhere from 20 to over 150 students participate each year, but there are always more students than available spaces.

“We target B and C students, underserved first generation college bound students, and lower income students. We want to impact students and build a new path for them,” she said.

The program runs anywhere between two weeks to a month and fluctuates each year depending on funding, which is primarily done through private donations. Students get a chance to learn about technology first-hand and there is always an off-site visit to a company at some point during camp. Students always take home some type of technology they’ve built and more often than not they build a computer that they can take home at the end of program.

“Summer camps can’t teach students about computers if they don’t have access to them,” she said.

Another program Ms. Lauer is intimately involved with is CyberPatriot, a National Youth Cyber Education Program created by the Air Force Association that engages middle and high school students in learning about careers in cybersecurity and other STEM disciplines.

While all this may sound incredibly difficult for just one person to accomplish, factor in the classes Ms. Lauer teaches at QCC, in addition to raising five children, all of whom have attained academic and career success (professions run the gamut from doctor to lawyer).

Earlier in May, she participated in a road race with her seven-year-old grandson to help raise awareness of substance use disorder and support families who have lost a loved one to addiction.

When asked why she is so passionate about helping others, her answer is that of a typical super hero.

“Everyone can work to change and help their community. Everyone needs to find how they can contribute and make their community better,” she said. “It’s something as a society we should think about more.”