German and Gabriel Laconi
German
and Gabriel Laconi are twins who share a zeal for electronics. Originally
from Buenos Aires, Argentina, their family moved to the United States in
2001. While in high school, the brothers participated in the two-year
electronics technology program at Valley Vocational Center, and had four job
offers each upon their graduation from high school. They made the joint
decision to accept jobs at Virginia Panel Corporation (VPC).
Within a few months of joining VPC they realized that furthering their education in electronics would provide them with greater opportunities - at VPC and beyond.
“Because of our job and our passion towards electronics, our program of choice at BRCC was the associate degree in electronics and computer technology,” explained German. VPC worked with Blue Ridge Community College, and the twins received scholarships from BRCC through the College’s Community Based Job Training grant from the Department of Labor. “We are still required by VPC to work 40 hours a week, but they are very flexible on how we do so,” said Gabriel.
The twins say they plan to continue at VPC after completing their associates degrees, and perhaps even transfer to Old Dominion University to pursue an engineering degree. “I always had a pretty clear idea of what I wanted to do in life, and that idea has not changed at all,” commented German.