On Could seventeenth, 2025, we celebrated the accomplishments of our Jumpstart Fellows in each the Lowell and Boston cohorts with households, mentors, and sponsors at MassRobotics headquarters in Boston.
The Jumpstart Fellowship Program was based to develop a extra inclusive robotics and tech pipeline. Extra particularly, this system focuses on highschool females. Throughout a five-month Saturday curriculum, the fellows study all facets of engineering that drive the robotics subject, together with CAD (SolidWorks), Programming, Simulation, Fabrication, and using prototyping tools. A big a part of this system additionally explores delicate expertise, use of LinkedIn, resumes, and publicity to females in tech in any respect phases of their careers, who present weekly mentorship and recommendation. College students who full this portion of the curriculum construct a powerful community of females within the robotics and tech industries.
Based in 2021, the annual program is now in its fifth 12 months. It was funded by way of grants from La Fondation Dassault Systèmes and The Cummings Basis.
Over the past two years, this system expanded to incorporate college students from the Lowell space, because of the help of the Massachusetts Know-how Collaborative and the UMass Lowell NERVE Middle. Natalie Brown and the Analog Units Basis offered extra help. An extra thanks to ML Mackey and Beacon for offering highly effective computer systems to help the total use of all software program to its full capabilities.
Saturday’s occasion celebrated the scholars’ achievements all through the 5-month program. Thanks got to program coordinators and mentors who offered technical experience and recommendation throughout this system. Particular shout-outs to Rachael Naoum – CSWE, from SolidWorks, who has been offering curriculum and help for five years, and Betsy Jasper, who labored with the scholars on a number of weekends, sharing her experience in CNC and machining, and going above and past to help the MassRobotics group. Different specialists from the trade additionally offered mentorship throughout our Saturday periods.
Jumpstart Fellows from every cohort shared their reflections on this system – what they discovered and what they took away from the expertise:
“My identify is Aadya Gurjar and I’m honored to share a bit about my journey as a fellow within the MassRobotics Jumpstart Program. Jumpstart is a hands-on robotics and tech program geared toward empowering highschool college students with real-world STEM expertise.
Once I first joined Jumpstart, I wasn’t solely certain what to anticipate. I had an curiosity in know-how, however robotics appeared like a distant world—advanced, intimidating, and out of attain. That very modified rapidly.
From the beginning, this system immersed us within the fundamentals of robotics, programming, computer-aided design, and teamwork. However extra than simply technical expertise, it gave me confidence. I had the possibility to work on actual initiatives, collaborate with trade mentors, and clear up issues that didn’t include a step-by-step information.
One of the crucial impactful components of the expertise was the neighborhood. Being surrounded by different curious, passionate fellows—and mentors who actually believed in us—confirmed me that innovation isn’t nearly know-how; it’s about individuals, collaboration, and the braveness to take dangers.
As a Jumpstart fellow, I’ve discovered not simply methods to construct issues, however methods to imagine in my potential to take action.
I’m leaving this program with new expertise, new targets, and a deep sense of objective. I now know {that a} future in STEM isn’t simply potential—it’s mine to create.
An enormous thanks to Alethea, Joyce, and Kevin, who has been by all of our sides all through this excellent journey of ours.” – Aadya, Cohort 5, Lowell
The opposite Fellow shared that she improvised a part of her reflection, although she shared extra afterwards:
“One factor that I’m most grateful for is the huge neighborhood we shaped over the months Jumpstart was in session. I received to satisfy so many various, passionate, and keen mentors from everywhere in the STEM subject, and it was great to know that I had so many individuals there to assist. I additionally received to satisfy so many younger individuals my age who cared about what I cared about—one thing that’s usually not straightforward to search out at my faculty. This all means a lot to me, as a result of these connections might be there for a very long time after Jumpstart!
One thing that I didn’t get to talk about on Saturday however was equally significant to me was having the ability to make one thing on the finish of Jumpstart. I actually didn’t suppose I’d be capable of pull off what I did with the talents I now have in the time-frame I used to be given—however I did! And seeing my challenge come alive every Saturday was a sense I’ll always remember. Every error message, or damaged half, or downside I confronted meant a lot extra each time I used to be capable of finding some intelligent manner round it. Jumpstart didn’t train me methods to clear up issues, and it confirmed me I can. And I actually imagine that exhibiting is essentially the most highly effective manner of educating. Thanks a lot to Jumpstart for giving me an area the place I may belief myself to make my desires a actuality!” – Aliana, Cohort 5, Boston
In the course of the celebration, every fellow shared an anecdote about what stood out to them, verify them out:
“Earlier than Jumpstart, I by no means thought I’d be capable of create an modern robotic from scratch. On this program I used to be in a position to uncover a lot new materials like laser chopping and SOLIDWORKS, this has fully motivated me to additional discover totally different STEM fields.” – Ashly, Cohort 5, Boston
“Jumpstart has allowed me to creatively develop no matter involves my thoughts! Since attending, I’ve been in a position to make use of machines and software program that I’d have by no means imagined myself using. It gave me plenty of perception on how versatile engineering is.” – Thy, Cohort 5, Boston
“MassRobotics Jumpstart program has sparked my curiosity in engineering, and even in case you are somewhat bit into engineering (and unsure you wish to pursue it), I’d say, do it. ” – Vaishnavi, Cohort 5, Lowell
In the course of the celebration, Shreya Iyer from Cohort 2 shared her phrases of knowledge after finishing her first 12 months at Georgia Institute of Know-how finding out Electrical Engineering:
“Hi there Everybody, congratulations, Cohort 5, in your commencement! My identify is Shreya, and I used to be a part of Jumpstart Cohort 2. I can’t imagine I used to be sitting the place you might be simply 3 years in the past. Whereas three years might not sound like a very long time, for me, it looks like a lifetime—as a result of Jumpstart was actually the place all of it started.
By means of Jumpstart, I gained technical expertise, confidence, and, most significantly, I discovered myself surrounded by an extremely empowering neighborhood. I introduced that newfound confidence again to my FIRST Robotics group, the place I used to be in a position to contribute meaningfully to technical initiatives. That have ultimately led me to management roles—first as Mechanical and Electrical Technical Lead, and later as Co-Captain. In these roles, I labored exhausting to create welcoming, inclusive areas—particularly for different women in engineering.
That very same spirit of management and neighborhood carried into different areas of my life as effectively. I began my highschool’s Women in STEM group and created related inclusive areas wherever I may. As you progress on from Jumpstart, I encourage you to take every little thing you’ve discovered—sure, the technical expertise and data—but additionally the boldness, collaboration, and keenness for impression. Deliver it with you and use it to create change and make a distinction within the communities you’re a part of.
Jumpstart jumpstarted my journey.
I may discuss for hours about how a lot I really like this program and the way deeply it has formed me. However as a substitute, I’ll go away you with my two largest takeaways.
First, by way of jumpstart I gained confidence–confidence in myself, my concepts, and technical potential, as I’ve mentioned earlier than.
From jumpstart, I gained one thing extra, one thing generally missed–a useful neighborhood.
For instance, at any time when I had a query about which internship or summer time program I ought to choose, I instantly turned to my jumpstart mentors. Once I needed to determine between schools, like MIT and a full-ride scholarship to Georgia Tech, I as soon as once more reached out to the identical group. Not solely have they got deep perception into the industries we need to work in, however extra importantly, they genuinely care about what’s greatest for you, for me, and for all of us.
And it isn’t simply the mentors you meet. It’s the friends and friendships you’ve gotten shaped by way of Jumpstart. For instance, after I needed to keep at Harvard’s admitted college students weekend, I ended up staying with a detailed buddy from my Jumpstart cohort. However it isn’t only a a technique road. Extra not too long ago, one among your cohort members visited Georgia Tech, and I had the pleasure of exhibiting her round campus. I had a good time, and I hope it was useful for her as effectively.
So please—keep related. To your mentors, your pals, and to one another. This isn’t only a program; it’s a neighborhood—one that wishes to see you develop, thrive, and succeed.
Though that is the tip of the Jumpstart program for you, that is the start of your Jumpstart expertise. I’m actually grateful for the distinction Jumpstart has made for me and hope that you’ll reap the benefits of every little thing it might probably do for you. Congratulations cohort 5, good luck with every little thing, and most significantly keep related!”
What’s subsequent for the Fellows? In June, they may start their summer time internships. We’ll host a reunion in August, throughout which the scholars will share their experiences and supply updates on plans.
Thanks once more to our mentors for spending a Saturday or extra with us. The impression of mentors is a big a part of this program and actually helps the scholars develop. Thanks additionally to the numerous industries that opened their doorways for subject journeys – first-hand expertise seeing operations is eye-opening. It gives a brand new look into profession alternatives: GreenSight, Ava Robotics, New Stability, MITRE, Teledyne FLIR, Desktop Metallic, Shell Techworks, Lightspeed MFG, ASMPT, UMass Lowell NERVE Middle, WSP, La Fondation Dassault Systèmes.
Be taught extra about MassRobotics STEM right here.
