Girls Behind the Glass robotics competition returns

MEREDITH — From a trailblazing debut to a full house, Girls Behind the Glass, a FIRST Robotics competition featuring all-female drive teams, has shattered expectations and doubled its impact in just one year. Inter-Lakes Middle/High School and Prospect Mountain High School joined forces to launch the event with 16 teams in its inaugural year — now, just one year later, it's grown to full capacity with 24 teams. 

The four tenets of the competition are empowerment, community, recognition and teamwork. Larger squads will partner with smaller groups to ensure every team has the required four participants. 

A demonstration from the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory autonomous off-road vehicle from Hanover that explores the coldest regions on the planet will also be on hand. 

FRC Team 8046 Lakerbots has two female coaches — Joanne Lau, a 29-year veteran teacher in the fields of math and computer science who has assisted the team for the past five years and Meghan Theriault, a civil engineer and the director of public works in Gilford lends supports with the business side of the team. 

“Being a FIRST mentor with the Lakerbots has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Programs like this don’t just build robots — they build confidence, teamwork, and real-world skills that last far beyond high school. I’m incredibly grateful to the Inter‑Lakes school community and our many supporters who make this team possible. It truly takes a village to build a robot — and a student’s future,” said Theriault. 

Last year, Amanda Gagne, manufacturing engineer at TURBOCAM International, provided an inspiring keynote speech encouraging students to “find someone in your corner,” “be confident,” and “know it’s okay to be the only girl in the room.” 

Gagne began her engineering journey as a member of the PMHS high school robotics team, continued through college with an internship at TURBOCAM, where she was hired and now gives back as a mentor.

The event will be held on Sunday, Nov. 2, starting at 8:30 a.m. at Prospect Mountain High School in Alton and is open to the public. For more information, visit lakerbots.org.