海角社区 Grad Trades Lab Coat for Mouse Ears at Disney College Program to Further her Engineering Career
June 19, 2025
Spring 2025 海角社区 graduate Hannah Grace Vautrot is bringing her engineering knowledge, tinkering skills, and creative mind back to Walt Disney World as part of the Disney College Program to further her career in themed entertainment engineering.
Vautrot has always seen herself as an avid problem solver. She took her high school STEM education and robotics team skills to 海角社区 and majored in mechanical engineering.
Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Vautrot felt 海角社区 was the obvious choice to pursue mechanical engineering.
Hannah Grace Vautrot in Magic Kingdom
鈥淚 think my studies have prepared me well for my future in themed entertainment engineering,鈥� Vautrot said. 鈥淲hile I have a lot of knowledge of how materials behave and how to analyze mechanical systems, I must acknowledge a lot of the preparation was indirect; this program has challenged me in so many ways that I feel confident that I can tackle whatever comes my way. I always say 鈥楨verything is figure-out-able!鈥欌��
During her time at 海角社区, Vautrot joined the Disney College Program because she had a desire to gain experience in the themed entertainment industry. She felt it was important to have in-park experience so she could gain exposure with how it all works, and what decisions are being made to improve the parks.
鈥淥ne of the first questions on every engineering internship application is 鈥楧id you complete the Disney College Program?鈥� Vautrot said. 鈥淚 got to thoroughly explore all the beautiful engineering in every detail during my seven months at the theme parks last year.鈥�
Her biggest reason for returning to the Disney College Program this summer is to dive deeper into the firsthand experience, as her goal is to transition from the college program to a professional internship in engineering by January.
鈥淢y college program really helped solidify my drive to use my engineering skills to make magical experiences for people,鈥� Vautrot said. 鈥淚t hit me that there are amazing people called imagineers that make it all work. It is an absolute dream of mine to help contribute to the magic, keep it alive and create those core memory experiences for everyone who walks through the gates.鈥�
During her time as a Disney College Program intern last summer, Vautrot was able to experience Tiana鈥檚 Bayou Adventure ride, which helped her solidify her career path, and made her feel at home.
鈥淭he state-of-the-art animatronics and special effects depicting the gorgeous bayous of my home state Louisiana, I knew that I was where I鈥檓 meant to be,鈥� Vautrot said. 鈥淭he song 鈥楢lmost There鈥� really resonates with me. Now that I鈥檝e graduated, just like Tiana, I鈥檝e worked really hard, and I feel like I鈥檓 almost there!鈥�
In the next five years, Vautrot sees herself problem-solving and continuing her engineering solutions in the theme park industry.
鈥淚 want to help create the very magical experiences that inspired me as a child. I want to find a home in creating memories that will last a lifetime for guests, just like the ones I have from my childhood and even now in my adulthood,鈥� Vautrot said. 鈥淲hether that home is at Walt Disney Imagineering or elsewhere, I can鈥檛 wait for what鈥檚 next for me.鈥�
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