Skilled Trades apprentices learn about state government/history first-hand

FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL CHRIS KOSTER (seated on table in front of class) was the winter semester’s final guest at the new Skilled Trades Associate Degree in Applied Science program that St. Louis Community College has pioneered with the St. Louis Electrical Connection, the partnership between IBEW Local 1 and the St. Louis National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). Apprentices who complete their apprenticeship program and earn 15 hours of general education courses at the Community College can earn this associate degree. Tim Green, a veteran Local 1 member, former state legislator and current director of governmental affairs for IBEW/NECA (standing to right of Koster) teaches history/government as part of the overall program. Koster was discussing the executive branch of Missouri government, one of the five sections in Green’s history course. With each segment, Green brings in a guest speaker. They have included Eastern Missouri Court of Appeals Judge Robert Clayton, Missouri Lottery Director May Scheve and government relations lobbyist Kyna Iman.