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ST. CHARLES – The Electrical Connection expanded its support of the best and brightest high school students in St. Charles County by charting pathways to career opportunities in the electrical industry.   As it has done in previous years, the Electrical Connection sponsored the STEM Celebration Breakfast presented by EDC Business & Community Partners in St. Charles County.  The 9^th annual salute recognized 22 students that excel in the subjects of science, technology, engineering and math.  This year, it also included a panel discussion on career development that featured Dennis Gralike, director of the award-winning IBEW/NECA Electrical Industry Training Center.

The training center at 2300 Hampton Ave. is operated by the labor-management partnership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1 and the St. Louis Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).  IBEW and NECA also form the Electrical Connection.

Gralike detailed the training center’s robust curriculum that builds on the foundation of science, technology, engineering and math.  He also noted training center’s accreditations that allow apprentices and journey workers to earn college credits.

For more than 75 years, the training center has produced more highly skilled and safe electricians and communication technicians than any other education program in Missouri.  It features a five-year, 10,000 hour education program that is industry funded at no taxpayer expense.  Its apprentices are instructed free of charge and have opportunities to earn a living while they learn the electrical trade.

“There’s no better example of the importance of STEM education than the growing complexities of commercial, industrial and residential electrical and communications construction,” said Jim Curran, executive vice president, Electrical Connection.  “The STEM achievers we salute today have the potential to design, engineer and orchestrate the installation the electrical and communications infrastructure to meet our future technology needs.  These students will shape our next generation data centers, advanced manufacturing facilities, hospitals, renewable energy, smart buildings and more.”  Curran encouraged the students to build their careers in St. Louis.

Curran also announced that through the Electrical Connection’s partnership with the St. Louis Cardinals, the students and school officials will be treated to a special behind the scenes look at how STEM education is applied to running the storied baseball franchise. On April 24, 2018, they will be invited to Busch Stadium to hear from team officials in several departments about how they apply STEM subjects.

The learning session will be concluded by a luncheon.  

The St. Charles County high school students honored at this year’s STEM breakfast include:

·         Hannah Ballard, Lutheran High;

·         Samuel Baumann, St. Charles West;

·         Adam Colter, Lewis & Clark

·         Claire Frank, Francis Howell

·         Emily Harrelson, Fort Zumwalt South

·         Andrew Janes, Fort Zumwalt North

·         Jacob Krussel, Duchesne High

·         Robert Merritt, St. Charles High

·         Hayden Mills, Wentzville Timberland High

·         Jade Nguyen, Fort Zumwalt East

·         Andrew Oliver, Christian High

·         Cooper Redington, Francis Howell Central

·         David Reineke, Orchard Farm

·         Keyton Rovka, Wentzville Holt High

·         Alexandra Sabala, St. Dominic

·         Jiyu Son, Fort Zumwalt West

·         Seth Tate, Wentzville Liberty Academy

·         Caitlind Walker, Francis Howell North

 

Students honored in the Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) Program include Levi Virden, St. Charles High; Grant Argent, Francis Howell; Savannah Rackovan, Wentzville High; and Brandon Siebert, Orchard Farm High.

The STEM breakfast is one of several educational initiatives support by the Electrical Connection.  Others include partnerships with the FIRST Robotics, the Saint Louis Science Center, Missouri Energy Initiative (MEI), the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) and more.

The STEM Celebration Breakfast and panel discussion was held Thursday March 22, 2018 at the Old Hickory Golf Club in St. Peters, Mo. 

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