The Eichenholz-SPIE Photonics Technician Scholarship

For students enrolled or planning to enroll in a laser, optics, or photonics technician associate or certificate program.

Valuable support for students pursuing careers as optics and photonics technicians

Four $2,500 scholarships will be awarded to support tuition and fees, textbooks, computer, or computer upgrade, and supplies and equipment needed for courses of instruction. Scholarship winners will also receive a one-year complimentary SPIE Student Membership.

Congratulations to the 2026 recipients

Hudson Bos

Gallatin College - Montana State University, United States

Aiden Gingras

Niagara College, Canada

Leonardo Reyes Jr.

Indian Hills Community College, United States

Eligibility requirements

  • Applicants must be enrolled or planning to enroll in a laser, optics, or photonics technician associate or certificate program.
  • Applicants are required to submit information regarding their school and technician program, an unofficial academic transcript, resume, a personal essay detailing their motivation for becoming a technician and their career goals, and two recommendations.
  • An SPIE account is required to apply.

Meet Jason Eichenholz

This scholarship program is made possible by the generous support of SPIE Fellow Jason Eichenholz.

Jason is a serial entrepreneur, executive, and recognized pioneer in laser and optics enabled innovation, product development, and commercialization. Over the past two decades he has started multiple companies, raised hundreds of millions of dollars of investor funding and led the development of hundreds of millions of dollars of revolutionary products