The Metallica Scholars Initiative Workforce Education Program is now in all 50 States with $2.6 million committed this year and totals more than $10 million invested since inception.

Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands (AWMH), continues its multimillion-dollar investment in critical workforce programs at community colleges nationwide. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College has been invited to return in the initiative’s sixth year, making this the third year MGCCC has been included. Metallica Scholars funding has been used at MGCCC to enhance career and technical education programs at the college in a variety of ways, including providing over 60 student scholarships.

Dr. Cedric Bradley, Vice President of the Jackson County Campus said, “We are excited to partner with AACC and All Within My Hands Foundation to bring incredible opportunities to our students. This $25,000 grant highlights our commitment to student success at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. We look forward to the positive impact this collaboration will have on our community and the amazing achievements our students will accomplish with this support.”

The focus of this year’s initiative at MGCCC is to provide scholarships, tools, and personal protective equipment to students in our Precision Manufacturing and Machining Technology program on the Jackson County Campus.

AWMH, the non-profit, philanthropic organization created by the members and management of Metallica, has announced the largest expansion of its Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) and its largest grant to date. With the launch of year six, 18 new colleges join the roster of existing MSI community colleges, with each new college receiving $75,000 to enhance the student experience within career and technical education programs. The Metallica Scholars Initiative now has a presence in 60 colleges across all 50 United States and the territory of Guam.

“Metallica, through their foundation, is changing how people view and engage with the trades in this country, and it is working,” stated Peter Delgrosso, Executive Director of All Within My Hands. “Metallica Scholars are diverse, motivated, and ambitious, and we are here to help them reach their goals. I am so proud and honored to be able to announce entrance into all 50 states as this is a significant milestone for not only our foundation but the incredible community we have helped foster and connect.”

Launched in 2019 by All Within My Hands in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), MSI began with 10 colleges and primarily manufacturing programs. With steady development by creative and dedicated leadership, MSI offers diverse workforce opportunities for students interested in gaining the skills and training necessary to find meaningful and well-paying careers. Additional curricula will include construction, healthcare, and engineering, contributing to more than 25 fields of study offered within the Initiative. To date, AWMH has invested over $10.5M in the American workforce, reaffirming a commitment to career and technical education at the local level.

“When we launched the Metallica Scholars Initiative, it really spoke to me,” James “Pappa Het” Hetfield of Metallica said. “A collective goal of breaking the stigma of trade skills. Trade skills are vital to society, and what’s even more important is to support the many folks who are trying to create a career by learning and using these skills. I am so proud – we all are – to see how this program is changing lives by providing much-needed resources to empower students, and it’s great that we’re able to make our biggest grant yet to support these students and the future workforce. We are reaching even further for year six of the Metallica Scholars Initiative. This year, our program will be in 60 schools in all 50 states! All thanks to your support.”

By the end of year six, AWMH estimates that they will have helped more than 8,000 students with a wide range of backgrounds and ages gain skills to assist in finding meaningful jobs and careers. Metallica Scholars are often considered non-traditional students, as many have families they support or are the first in their families to pursue a college education. AWMH and AACC aim to connect students to skill-building opportunities and bridge the talent needs of the American workforce, all while utilizing the community college system, which is the most affordable, flexible, and industry-relevant applied-learning training provider in the country.

“I am happy to congratulate the newest Metallica Scholarship Initiative colleges. The sustained investment in workforce education by the All Within My Hands Foundation has benefitted thousands of community college students,” said Walter G. Bumphus, president and CEO of AACC. “This work helps to advance skills education and the nation’s workforce pipeline. We are honored to continue this partnership to provide critical resources that eliminate barriers for students to participate in skills education programs that lead to family-sustaining wage careers.”

AWMH also thanked long-time sponsors and partners – Carhartt and Wolverine – which are members of their advisory board, and the Metallica Family who have supported AWMH and helped to continue growing the initiative.

For a complete list of all 60 colleges currently supported by AWMH, visit allwithinmyhands.org/metallica-scholars.