A Jamaican American student has made history at Carnegie Mellon University after becoming the first person to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in robotics from the university. Beverly “Bev” Da Costa achieved the milestone during the university’s commencement ceremony after completing the school’s undergraduate robotics program, which officially launched three years ago.
Da Costa’s accomplishment is also a proud moment for her Jamaican family roots. Her parents, Janice and Christopher Da Costa, both attended Knox College in Clarendon, Jamaica. Janice is originally from Chudleigh in Manchester, while Christopher is from Christiana in Manchester.
As a first generation robotics engineer, Da Costa’s achievement highlights both academic success and the growing impact of Caribbean families in science and technology fields.
Making History At Carnegie Mellon
Carnegie Mellon University has long been recognized for its work in robotics through its Robotics Institute, which was founded in 1979. While the university had graduate robotics programs for many years, the Bachelor of Science in Robotics program officially began in 2023.
Da Costa became the first student to complete the undergraduate degree program, placing her in the university’s history books.
The Bachelor of Science in Robotics combines computer science, robotics systems, engineering and artificial intelligence with hands on learning and research.
Speaking with the Jamaicans.com team about the achievement, Da Costa shared what the milestone means to her.
“Being the first to graduate from such an incredible program means the world to me. Carnegie Mellon shapes the leaders who will define what technology looks like, and getting to be the start of that for robotics carries real weight. I care deeply about building technology that brings people together in strength and ability, and that drive is what brought me here and what I’m taking with me,” Da Costa said.
A Passion For Robotics From A Young Age
Growing up in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Da Costa developed an early interest in technology, robotics and problem solving. During high school, she participated in coding workshops and robotics projects that helped shape her future career path.
She entered Carnegie Mellon in 2021 as a computer science student before later joining the new robotics degree program after it was announced by the university.
The program gave students opportunities to work directly with robotics systems through practical projects, testing, coding and hardware development.
Da Costa has said robotics allowed her to combine creativity with hands on work while solving real world problems.
Building A Robotic Arm Controlled By Hand Gestures
For her senior capstone project, Da Costa worked with her team to develop a robotic arm controlled by hand gestures. The project combined computer vision, wireless communication and custom hardware.
The robotic system was designed to allow users to control the robot’s movement remotely through natural hand motions. The project also explored ways robotics technology could support safer work environments in industries where dangerous tasks are involved.
Da Costa focused on software integration during the project, helping connect the robotic arm, camera systems, glove controls and communication systems into one working platform.
The project later gained attention during commencement activities when students presented their work to Jensen Huang, founder of Nvidia.
Continuing Her Journey In Artificial Intelligence
This fall, Da Costa will continue her education at Arizona State University, where she plans to pursue a Master’s degree in AI Engineering with a focus on robotics.
She hopes to continue building technology that people can trust while encouraging greater inclusion in robotics and engineering spaces.
Da Costa has also expressed her belief that there is space in robotics for everyone, especially for students who may not traditionally see themselves represented in the field.
A Proud Moment For Jamaican Roots
Da Costa’s achievement has drawn attention within both the Jamaican and Caribbean communities as another example of Jamaican families making an impact in education, science and innovation worldwide.
With strong family ties to Jamaica through her parents and their connection to Knox College, her accomplishment reflects the importance placed on education, growth and opportunity across generations.
As the first graduate of Carnegie Mellon’s robotics undergraduate program, Beverly “Bev” Da Costa has opened the door for future students while building a path of her own in robotics and artificial intelligence.
Photo – Carnegie Mellon University
