On May 17th, 2025, we celebrated the accomplishments of our Jumpstart Fellows in both the Lowell and Boston cohorts with families, mentors, and sponsors at MassRobotics headquarters in Boston.
The Jumpstart Fellowship Program was founded to grow a more inclusive robotics and tech pipeline. More specifically, the program focuses on high school females. During a five-month Saturday curriculum, the fellows learn all aspects of engineering that drive the robotics field, including CAD (SolidWorks), Programming, Simulation, Fabrication, and the use of prototyping equipment. A large part of the program also explores soft skills, use of LinkedIn, resumes, and exposure to females in tech at all stages of their careers, who provide weekly mentorship and advice. Students who complete this portion of the curriculum build a strong network of females in the robotics and tech industries.
Founded in 2021, the annual program is now in its fifth year. It was funded through grants from La Fondation Dassault Systèmes and The Cummings Foundation.
Over the last two years, the program expanded to include students from the Lowell area, thanks to the support of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative and the UMass Lowell NERVE Center. Natalie Brown and the Analog Devices Foundation provided additional support. An additional thank you to ML Mackey and Beacon for providing powerful computers to support the full use of all software to its full capabilities.
Saturday’s event celebrated the students’ achievements throughout the 5-month program. Thanks were given to program coordinators and mentors who provided technical expertise and advice during the program. Specific shout-outs to Rachael Naoum – CSWE, from SolidWorks, who has been providing curriculum and support for 5 years, and Betsy Jasper, who worked with the students on several weekends, sharing her expertise in CNC and machining, and going above and beyond to support the MassRobotics team. Other experts from the industry also provided mentorship during our Saturday sessions.
Jumpstart Fellows from each cohort shared their reflections on the program – what they learned and what they took away from the experience:
“My name is Aadya Gurjar and I’m honored to share a bit about my journey as a fellow in the MassRobotics Jumpstart Program. Jumpstart is a hands-on robotics and tech program aimed at empowering high school students with real-world STEM experience.
When I first joined Jumpstart, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. I had an interest in technology, but robotics seemed like a distant world—complex, intimidating, and out of reach. That very changed quickly.
From the start, the program immersed us in the fundamentals of robotics, programming, computer-aided design, and teamwork. But more than just technical skills, it gave me confidence. I had the chance to work on real projects, collaborate with industry mentors, and solve problems that didn’t come with a step-by-step guide.
One of the most impactful parts of the experience was the community. Being surrounded by other curious, passionate fellows—and mentors who truly believed in us—showed me that innovation isn’t just about technology; it’s about people, collaboration, and the courage to take risks.
As a Jumpstart fellow, I’ve learned not just how to build things, but how to believe in my ability to do so.
I’m leaving this program with new skills, new goals, and a deep sense of purpose. I now know that a future in STEM isn’t just possible—it’s mine to create.
A huge thank you to Alethea, Joyce, and Kevin, who has been by all of our sides throughout this wonderful journey of ours.” – Aadya, Cohort 5, Lowell
The other Fellow shared that she improvised part of her reflection, though she shared more afterwards:
“One thing that I am most grateful for is the wide community we formed over the months Jumpstart was in session. I got to meet so many diverse, passionate, and willing mentors from all over the STEM field, and it was wonderful to know that I had so many people there to help. I also got to meet so many young people my age who cared about what I cared about—something that is often not easy to find at my school. This all means so much to me, because these connections will be there for a long time after Jumpstart!
Something that I didn’t get to speak about on Saturday but was equally meaningful to me was being able to make something at the end of Jumpstart. I truly didn’t think I’d be able to pull off what I did with the skills I now have in the time frame I was given—but I did! And seeing my project come alive each Saturday was a feeling I’ll never forget. Each error message, or broken part, or problem I faced meant so much more every time I was able to find some clever way around it. Jumpstart didn’t teach me how to solve problems, and it showed me I can. And I truly believe that showing is the most powerful way of teaching. Thank you so much to Jumpstart for giving me a space where I could trust myself to make my dreams a reality!” – Aliana, Cohort 5, Boston
During the celebration, each fellow shared an anecdote about what stood out to them, check them out:
“Before Jumpstart, I never thought I would be able to create an innovative robot from scratch. In this program I was able to discover so much new material like laser cutting and SOLIDWORKS, this has completely motivated me to further explore different STEM fields.” – Ashly, Cohort 5, Boston
“Jumpstart has allowed me to creatively develop whatever comes to my mind! Since attending, I have been able to use machines and software that I would have never imagined myself utilizing. It gave me a lot of insight on how versatile engineering is.” – Thy, Cohort 5, Boston
“MassRobotics Jumpstart program has sparked my interest in engineering, and even if you are a little bit into engineering (and not sure you want to pursue it), I’d say, do it. ” – Vaishnavi, Cohort 5, Lowell
During the celebration, Shreya Iyer from Cohort 2 shared her words of wisdom after completing her first year at Georgia Institute of Technology studying Electrical Engineering:
“Hello Everyone, congratulations, Cohort 5, on your graduation! My name is Shreya, and I was part of Jumpstart Cohort 2. I can’t believe I was sitting where you are just 3 years ago. While three years may not sound like a long time, for me, it feels like a lifetime—because Jumpstart was truly where it all began.
Through Jumpstart, I gained technical skills, confidence, and, most importantly, I found myself surrounded by an incredibly empowering community. I brought that newfound confidence back to my FIRST Robotics team, where I was able to contribute meaningfully to technical projects. That experience eventually led me to leadership roles—first as Mechanical and Electrical Technical Lead, and later as Co-Captain. In those roles, I worked hard to create welcoming, inclusive spaces—especially for other girls in engineering.
That same spirit of leadership and community carried into other areas of my life as well. I started my high school’s Girls in STEM organization and created similar inclusive spaces wherever I could. As you move on from Jumpstart, I encourage you to take everything you’ve learned—yes, the technical skills and knowledge—but also the confidence, collaboration, and passion for impact. Bring it with you and use it to create change and make a difference in the communities you’re part of.
Jumpstart jumpstarted my journey.
I could talk for hours about how much I love this program and how deeply it has shaped me. But instead, I’ll leave you with my two biggest takeaways.
First, through jumpstart I gained confidence–confidence in myself, my ideas, and technical ability, as I have discussed before.
From jumpstart, I gained something more, something sometimes overlooked–an invaluable community.
For example, whenever I had a question about which internship or summer program I should select, I immediately turned to my jumpstart mentors. When I had to decide between colleges, like MIT and a full-ride scholarship to Georgia Tech, I once again reached out to the same group. Not only do they have deep insight into the industries we desire to work in, but more importantly, they genuinely care about what is best for you, for me, and for all of us.
And it is not just the mentors you meet. It’s the peers and friendships you have formed through Jumpstart. For example, when I had to stay at Harvard’s admitted students weekend, I ended up staying with a close friend from my Jumpstart cohort. But it isn’t just a one way street. More recently, one of your cohort members visited Georgia Tech, and I had the pleasure of showing her around campus. I had a great time, and I hope it was helpful for her as well.
So please—stay connected. To your mentors, your friends, and to each other. This isn’t just a program; it’s a community—one that wants to see you grow, thrive, and succeed.
Even though this is the end of the Jumpstart program for you, this is the beginning of your Jumpstart experience. I am truly grateful for the difference Jumpstart has made for me and hope that you will take advantage of everything it can do for you. Congratulations cohort 5, good luck with everything, and most importantly stay connected!”
What’s next for the Fellows? In June, they will begin their summer internships. We’ll host a reunion in August, during which the students will share their experiences and provide updates on plans.
Thanks again to our mentors for spending a Saturday or more with us. The impact of mentors is a large part of this program and truly helps the students grow. Thanks also to the many industries that opened their doors for field trips – first-hand experience seeing operations is eye-opening. It provides a new look into career opportunities: GreenSight, Ava Robotics, New Balance, MITRE, Teledyne FLIR, Desktop Metal, Shell Techworks, Lightspeed MFG, ASMPT, UMass Lowell NERVE Center, WSP, La Fondation Dassault Systèmes.
Learn more about MassRobotics STEM here.