March 26, 2026
The TechWomen Awards honor three exceptional women in the technology industry – Tech Student of the Year, Tech Educator of the Year, and Tech Professional of the Year – for their achievements and contributions in the field in 2025. Honorees have demonstrated a commitment to supporting STEM/Technology education and advancing the role of women and girls in technology.
Tech Student of the Year: Helen Saunders
Helen Saunders is a senior at the Derryfield School in Manchester. She intends to pursue physics at MIT next year and row for the MIT Women’s Openweight Crew team. Aside from school and rowing, she is a dancer with the McGonagle School of Irish Dance, a harpist, and a longtime participant in FIRST robotics. After participating in middle school with FTC Team 8888 Infinity Factor, she joined the Merrimack High School FRC team, Chop Shop 166, and additionally continues to participate in FTC on the Derryfield team, Binary Bots 12758.
Tech Educator of the Year: Shannon McCracken-Barber
Shannon McCracken-Barber is a dedicated STEAM Educator, Project Director, and Artist with a diverse background in fields such as Metalsmithing, 3D Modeling, and Wearable Electronics. Her love for learning and teaching fuels her creative approach to education. Currently, Shannon is focused on developing BioFabrication and Regenerative Medicine pathways for students and educators in Manchester, NH, through Manchester CREATES. She works to make complex research accessible, aiming to inspire students to explore these innovative fields.
Tech Professional of the Year: Madhura Mitra
Madhura Mitra is the Director of Engineering for Hypertherm Associates’ Heavy Industrial Plasma business, with more than 15 years of experience in cutting technologies. During her career, she has helped bring advanced plasma innovations from concept to launch while strengthening the systems and teams that sustain long-term product success. In her recent leadership roles, Madhura built the company’s Central Sustaining Engineering function from the hiring and mentoring of talent and establishing scalable processes to driving change management that improved how work is delivered across business teams. She also led continuous enhancements to Hypertherm’s Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) capabilities, to gain efficiency and stronger product quality through streamlined workflows.
In addition to her progressive leadership responsibilities, Madhura has been integral to Hypertherm Associates’ and the HOPE Foundation’s STEM Education initiatives. She served as Chair of the HOPE Team’s STEM committee for 3 years and regularly volunteers to support student visits and education opportunities at Hypertherm’s New Hampshire manufacturing facilities.
Madhura holds an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and a B.S. from the University of Pune, and she is a proud alumna of the NH Tech Alliance Ascending Leaders in Technology program.
“We are proud to recognize Helen, Shannon, and Madhura as this year’s TechWomen Award winners. Each of these remarkable leaders exemplifies the strength and impact of women in technology—whether inspiring the next generation in the classroom, expanding access to emerging fields, or driving innovation within industry. Their contributions not only advance their respective fields, but also help create more inclusive and accessible pathways for women and girls to thrive in STEM. We are honored to celebrate their achievements and the lasting influence they have on New Hampshire’s technology ecosystem.” – Julie Demers, Executive Director, NH Tech Alliance
The TechWomen Award winners will be honored on April 22nd at the TechWomen Connect and Awards. The awards reception will be a must-attend event for women in technology, featuring fun and interactive activities, delicious food and drinks and networking opportunities.
The event will be held at the Fidelity offices in Merrimack. Attendees will learn about the incredible work being done by the three award winners. Registration is now open.
About the NH Tech Alliance:
The New Hampshire Tech Alliance is a statewide technology association supporting companies at every stage of growth and development from start-ups to established leaders in the global economy. The Alliance is committed to nurturing a vibrant tech ecosystem by building partnerships, enhancing knowledge, and shaping public policy.