After high school, Hannah Scarbrough started studying environmental engineering at a community college. She was planning to complete her four-year degree at Colorado School of Mines, where she transferred in 2020.
But during her junior year at Mines, she realized engineering wasn’t the right career for her, and she made the difficult decision to change paths. She dropped out and took a gap year working in retail management before discovering the optics & laser technology program at Front Range Community College.
Math, Science Classes Pay Off
“I knew I wanted a career that was very hands-on, with room to continue learning and growing professionally, and I am so fortunate to have found that in the field of optics,” she says.
“My experience has been unique and challenging—but necessary, I believe—in order to discover the possibilities and potential of being a skilled optics technician.”
She adds that the math and science background she earned by getting halfway through an engineering degree has proved useful in understanding the physics of lasers and physical optics. These skills have helped her excel in her courses at FRCC.
Taking a Calculated Risk
She began taking courses at FRCC in the fall of 2023—but she actually landed her current job in the industry before she even started the college’s optics program. She attended the Colorado Photonics Industry Association Expo where she handed out résumés, introduced herself to industry professionals and learned more about the vast applications of optics and photonics.
“I am very grateful that I got out of my comfort zone,” she says. “Even though my résumé had no industry experience—and only listed my intent to begin FRCC’s optics program—I connected with my current employer and they proposed an apprenticeship opportunity to me.”
“I knew from the start that I wanted to take classes as a way to supplement my on-the-job training, but the opportunity of the apprenticeship was everything I was looking for wrapped up in one,” Hannah recalls. “So, of course, I said yes—sign me up!”
Hands-On Learning
Hannah has loved her experience at FRCC. “I thoroughly enjoy the hands-on aspect of all the classes the optical technology program offers,” she raves. “I have really enjoyed all the courses I have taken at Front Range.”
As someone who has always learned best by doing, she loves being in a program that has an interactive lab almost every time they meet. “It really helps me to solidify new concepts, build knowledge and gain practical skills in a way that is interesting.”
Hannah adds that learning from the industry professionals who teach her classes offers an in-depth perspective of the challenges and successes within the field. “My teachers clearly have a passion for sharing the world of optics and photonics with their students,” she says.
“They encourage independent learning, facilitated by working with others on complex labs and projects. The knowledge shared in the classroom has benefited me greatly in other classes and on-the-job.”
Building a Strong Foundation
She says her FRCC instructors ensure the workload for each class is manageable and practical for all students, while also making sure they gain the knowledge needed to be successful in their careers. “They understand the heavy load of working full-time while taking evening classes.”
So far, Hannah’s favorite classes include:
- Metrology of Optical Systems
- Advanced Fabrication of Precision Optics
- Fundamentals of Light & Lasers
- Advanced Topics in Optics & Photonics
She says these classes dive deeply into fundamental and necessary knowledge, while still offering plenty of hands-on labs to build practical skills. Hannah is already looking forward to taking the Optical Devices & Systems and Laser Systems & Applications courses this spring.
A Community in Optics
Hannah enjoys the community within the optics program at FRCC. “The desire to share knowledge, insight and wisdom is apparent from our instructors—and my co-students, who come from a variety of backgrounds and life experiences, all share a similar desire to learn.”
She says the ability to learn together and work well with each other helps foster good working relationships in the classroom and in the workplace. “It supplements this great feeling of community in the program,” she says.
“It has been a wonderful experience to grow personally and professionally in an environment with peers who share similar visions and goals for their futures. I look forward to seeing how the optical technology program continues to grow and evolve after my time at Front Range.”
Hannah also finds the optics and photonics industry to be a very welcoming and knowledgeable community of hard-working and intelligent professionals. “It’s exciting to be a part of that industry and the Front Range Community College optics technology program,” she says.
Help From Some Rockstars
Hannah was selected to participate in FRCC’s second cohort of the prestigious Metallica Scholars Initiative. This year, the college received a generous $50,000 grant aimed at enhancing the FRCC student experience and career readiness in several of its career technical education programs.
Hannah says the assistance from the band makes a real difference for her. “The Metallica scholarship is helping me by taking away some of the financial burden of higher education. The award helps make classes more affordable to me, which relieves some of the stress and financial strain of taking college classes.”
The funding comes from Metallica’s non-profit philanthropic foundation, All Within My Hands (AWMH), which is making a multimillion-dollar investment in critical workforce programs at community colleges nationwide.
“The Metallica scholarship is helping make my career goals a reality!”
Earning While Learning
Hannah is also in one of Front Range’s apprenticeship programs, which is an partnership between her optics industry employer and the college. She is learning practical skills both on-the-job and in the classroom.
She works 30-hours at Excelitas Technologies each week in a job in her field, while also taking full-time classes at FRCC. “It makes for a busy and fast-paced couple of years, but the experience, knowledge, and skills learned within the program will be well worth it!”
Next Steps
Hannah will finish her time at FRCC when she graduates in May 2025 with two professional certificates and an associate degree in Optical Technologies. But she says she will not be done learning. “There are so many the incredible things that optics and photonics has to offer,” she says.
“I am so fortunate to have had such a wonderful experience while attending FRCC. I know I will be leaving with the knowledge and experience that helps set me up for a lifetime career in the incredible field of optics.”
Because her apprenticeship is a three-year program, Hannah will continue her training with her current employer after graduation. “Once I complete the apprenticeship, I can enter the workforce as a fully-trained and skilled optics technician. I can’t wait!”
