60 Years Later, Finally Another Yellow Jacket in the Family
Dec 10, 2025
When Cole Rogers got the notice four years ago that he鈥檇 been moved off the waitlist and admitted to 麻豆区 Tech, he knew exactly who to call first.
His grandfather, Peter Petrecca, had studied at Tech and had a long career in aviation, engineering, and product development. No one would celebrate the news more, so Rogers called him with the news before he even told his parents.
Petrecca had raised three daughters and exposed them to engineering and making things. But none had been interested enough to make it a career 鈥 or study at Tech.
鈥淭hen Cole came along, and I had another opportunity,鈥 Petrecca said. 鈥淲e made model cars and motorcycles together and did other things. I wasn't sure he was going to go the engineering route, but I was thrilled when he got accepted.鈥
Now Rogers is graduating with his , and in the sometimes funny way history echoes itself, he鈥檒l walk across the stage exactly 60 years after his grandfather finished his own degree.
It鈥檚 a path that probably has been quietly paved throughout Rogers鈥 life, during all his visits to his grandfather鈥檚 house.
