MassRobotics welcomed our community to the 3rd Annual Women in Robotics Medal Gala, a night dedicated to celebrating two remarkable women who are leading the way in robotics innovation and impact.

The gala is more than an awards ceremony, it’s a celebration of progress, mentorship, and the collective power of our robotics ecosystem. This year’s event brought together industry leaders, academics, startup founders, and students, all united by a shared goal: to honor the achievements of women who are shaping the future of robotics and to inspire the next generation to follow in their footsteps.

A Night of Recognition and Gratitude

Thank you to Amazon Robotics for establishing an endowment with MassRobotics to ensure that our medal recipients not only receive recognition but also a meaningful cash award.

We want to extend heartfelt thanks to our sponsors and partners who make this evening possible:

Amazon Robotics – Our platinum sponsor, founding partner, and supporter of programs like the annual Drone Academy (now in its 8th year) as well as our annual Gala.
Massachusetts Technology Collaborative – Our gold sponsor and longtime supporter, including sponsoring the videographer for the evening.
Harmonic Drive – A founding and annual sponsor as well as sponsor of the evenings table centerpieces.
Orrick – Sponsor of our Women Founders Table.
And our additional table sponsors: Analog Devices, Boston University, Brown University, Locus Robotics, MIT CSAIL, MIT Media Lab’s Personal Robotics Group, UMass Amherst, and UMass Lowell.

We were also honored to have members of the MassRobotics Board in attendance, including Executive Director Tom Ryden, Tom Hopcroft, and Professors Daniela Rus and Tye Brady, as well as past rising star recipient Dr. Alyssa Pierson from Boston University and 2024 medal recipient Professor Cynthia Breazeal from MIT’s Media Lab.

Empowering the Next Generation: The Jumpstart Fellowship

At MassRobotics, we’re equally passionate about cultivating the next generation of diverse talent in robotics. We host the annual Girls Jumpstart Fellowship Program, a five-month Saturday program that provides high school girls with technical skills in CAD, programming, electronics, and fabrication, as well as mentorship from industry leaders.

The fellowship, supported by La Fondation Dassault Systèmes, MassTech Collaborative, and UMass Lowell, has now graduated over 98 young women, most of whom have gone on to pursue STEM fields.

This year, we were delighted to hear from Mirudulaa Suginathan, a Jumpstart alumna from Cohort 4 and current UMass Amherst engineering student, who shared her journey and reflections on how the program shaped her path.

We are grateful to the many mentors who dedicate their Saturdays to teaching, inspiring, and guiding these students. Two mentors in particular, Betsy Jasper and Rachel Naoum, were honored with our inaugural Unsung Hero – Ironheart Medal Award for their exceptional dedication and lasting impact on the program.

Celebrating Women Leading Robotics

Our Board Chair and Chief Technologist of Robotics at Amazon, Tye Brady, reminded us that while women make up only about 19% of the robotics engineering workforce, the tide is shifting — and with it, the future of robotics.

Tye’s inspiring words highlighted that the progress we’re making today stems from pioneers like Ada Lovelace, Daniela Rus, and Cynthia Breazeal, and continues through every woman in the field today. “We are not just building robots,” he said, “we are building a future where innovation knows no bounds and opportunity knows no gender.”

Honoring the 2025 Medal Recipients

Daniela Rus, Director of MIT Computer and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL) and highly decorated roboticsist introduced this years medal recipients.

Rising Star Medal: Professor Tania Morimoto, UC San Diego

Professor Morimoto was recognized for her groundbreaking work in soft and flexible medical robots and human–machine interfaces that improve access to high-quality healthcare. Her innovations bring us closer to a world where robotics enhances patient care, enabling safer, more precise, and more accessible medical procedures.

Robotics Medal: Professor Maja Matarić, University of Southern California

The Robotics Medal, accompanied by a $50,000 prize, was awarded to Professor Matarić for her pioneering contributions to socially assistive robotics — a field she helped define. Her work explores how robots can connect, motivate, and care for people, with profound applications in rehabilitation, education, and elder care.

In her heartfelt acceptance speech, Maja reflected on her journey from Yugoslavia to MIT to USC, crediting her family, mentors, and students for shaping her path. “I wanted to be able to say to my children, ‘Mama makes robots to help people’ — so I had to make that come true,” she shared. Her story embodied the spirit of the evening — intellect with empathy, and innovation with humanity.

Looking Ahead

Nominations are now open for the 4th Annual Women in Robotics Awards, including the 2026 Robotics Medal and Rising Star Award. Submissions are accepted through December 20, 2025, at TheRoboticsMedal.org, with recipients to be announced at ICRA in May 2026.

A Toast to the Future

As the night closed and guests gathered for desserts and cocktails, one message resonated throughout the room: when we support women in robotics, we don’t just advance technology, we advance humanity.