Year 8 Grant is largest to date, with more than $3.3M committed; expands internationally
BCC is proud to announce its selection as one of eighteen new schools to join the
eighth year of the prestigious Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) . Supported by a generous $75,000 grant aimed at enhancing the highly successful Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) program that is offered by the College and has seen successful graduation and placement
rates for the past couple of years. These funds will allow the College to train three
more cohorts of EMTs, which are needed in the Berkshires and beyond.
"Receiving this grant is so exciting, not only because we here at BCC get to tell
folks that we have received funding to support our community EMTs from the one and
only Metallica," Linda Clairmont, Executive Director of Workforce and Community Education at BCC said. "But because we have seen cuts to our grant funding in Workforce and
having the resources to train more cohorts of EMTs is critical, and this lifeline
is helping us fill those gaps, for which we are so grateful."
All Within My Hands (AWMH) , the non-profit, philanthropic organization created by the members and management
of Metallica, proudly announces the eighth year of its Metallica Scholars Initiative
(MSI) with its largest grant to date: over $3.3M. 18 new US schools will join the
returning 75 colleges in the fall for a total of 93 in the program. In addition, later
this year the Metallica Scholars Initiative will also expand to the United Kingdom
in partnership with Capital City College Group in London.
This thing started as a dream. Now our program is changing lives. To expand our impact
on a global scale and support even more students is so rewarding. We're so proud of
all the Metallica Scholars who have come through it and all the ones who will participate
in it. It's humbling to know we've been part of the journey of thousands of trade
professionals doing good, hard work in the world.
Metallica's James Hetfield
AWMH continues to work closely with its long-time partner, the American Association
of Community Colleges (AACC). Launched in 2019 by All Within My Hands, MSI's core
focus is supporting conventional trades, including welders, plumbers, and electricians,
while also adding fields that will generate the jobs of tomorrow. The workforce initiative
continues to evolve, supporting diverse fields for students interested in gaining
the skills and training necessary to establish meaningful careers that provide family-sustaining
wages. Year 8 includes a wide range of fields, including nursing and healthcare, optical
systems technology, automotive repair, maritime manufacturing, firefighting and EMT,
pipefitting, and agricultural pathways.
Dr. DeRionne P. Pollard, President and CEO, AACC, said, "The continued growth of the
Metallica Scholars Initiative is a powerful testament to what’s possible when visionary
philanthropy and community colleges come together around a shared mission. Through
this partnership, 13,000 community college students have already been supported across
the country, earning the skills needed for in- demand careers with family-sustaining
wages. This latest, generous investment by Metallica’s foundation will reach more
learners, while strengthening the workforce pipelines that power local economies.
We are proud to partner with All Within My Hands to scale this impact, ensuring even
more students have access to life-changing opportunities in the skilled trades and
beyond."
The initiative's eighth iteration also marks the renewal of AWMH's partnerships with
Carhartt, Wolverine, CNH Construction, and Upstaging, Inc., as well as the addition
of the Foundation's newest partner, ServiceTitan. These corporate partners complement
the Foundation's Executive and Advisory Board Members and the broader Metallica Family,
all of whom have played a role in advancing AWMH's mission and driving its success.
Metallica Scholars Year 8 will see our largest-scale growth yet, as we anticipate
supporting close to 4,000 new students in the United States and more than 1,000 learners
in the UK. This represents an approximate 40% increase in our student body, something
we are incredibly excited about. Supporting people of all ages entering and ascending
through trades is the right thing to do, not just domestically, but also abroad. Our
Metallica Scholars have demonstrated resilience and a strong determination to succeed,
which in turn motivates us to match their ambition.
Peter Delgrosso, Executive Director, AWMH
Newly Added Metallica Scholar Colleges:
- Barton Community College – Great Bend, KS
- Berkshire Community College – Pittsfield, MA
- Central Maine Community College – Auburn, ME
- Delaware County Community College – Media, PA
- Dutchess Community College – Fairview, NY
- Fletcher Technical Community College – Terrebonne Parish, LA
- Lake Region State College – Devils Lake, ND
- Metropolitan Community College – Kansas City, MO
- Monroe Community College – Rochester, NY
- Moraine Valley Community College – Palos Hills, IL
- North Central State College – Mansfield, OH
- Northeast State Community College – Blountville, TN
- Northwest Mississippi Community College – Senatobia, MS
- Raritan Valley Community College – Branchburg Township, NJ
- Riverside City College – Riverside, CA
- South Texas College – McAllen, TX
- Trident Technical College – North Charleston, SC
- William Rainey Harper College – Palatine, IL
Visit AWMH for a complete list of all 93 colleges currently supported.
