FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26, 2023
AACC Contact: Martha M. Parham, Ed.D.
Cell: 714-932-3694
opens in a new windowmparham@aacc.nche.educreate new email
AWMH Foundation Contact: Renee Richardson
opens in a new windowrenee@allwithinmyhands.orgcreate new email
Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation continues its multi-million dollar investment in critical workforce programs at the nation’s community colleges.
“The Metallica Scholars Initiative is so important to us because we are seeing results. Five years in, with the help of community colleges across the country, we are helping people fill these essential jobs which require skills and training. We are so proud and grateful that we can facilitate this program.” — Lars Ulrich, Metallica
Washington, DC — The major workforce education initiative that Metallica’s All Within My Hands (AWMH) foundation launched in 2019 in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), is marking its fifth year with the addition of 11 new colleges to its existing 31-college roster, and an ambitious expansion into new programs. Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) now directly supports 42 community colleges across 33 states in the U.S. to enhance their career and technical education programs. To date, Metallica and their foundation have invested over $6 million in the American workforce.
Reaffirming a commitment to career and technical education at the local level, each new school brings incredible opportunities to a thriving and growing community, says All Within My Hands Executive Director Peter Delgrosso.
“With the launch of the fifth year of the program, we will now have supported well over 5,000 Metallica Scholars across workforce education. The Metallica Scholars Initiative is a strong and cooperative community of the nation’s best community colleges creating a supportive climate for participants to communicate directly and share best practices. As a result, our Metallica Scholars leave the program well-trained and confident. Ultimately the impact is felt in their local communities, and on the national scale, as Metallica Scholars enter the workforce and fill, or create much needed workforce and technical positions,” Delgrosso said.
“We are happy to continue to partner with Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation to support the vital career and technical education work of the nation’s community colleges,” said Walter G. Bumphus, AACC’s president and CEO. “Colleges across the country provide pathways to well-paying jobs through programs, services and training that lead to in-demand skills, certificates and degrees for students. These programs are responsive to the needs of local businesses and provide a pipeline of qualified workers to local industry. Partners like Metallica that continue to provide support for community colleges help us to showcase the importance of investing in the transformative power of community college education.”
The new schools will each receive $100,000 to enhance the student experience as they receive career training for economic development. The 11 schools joining MSI this year are:
- opens in a new windowAiken Technical College – Aiken, South Carolina
- opens in a new windowCentral Wyoming College – Riverton, Wyoming
- opens in a new windowColumbia State Community College – Columbia, Tennessee
- opens in a new windowFront Range Community College – Westminster, Colorado
- opens in a new windowItawamba Community College – Fulton, Mississippi
- opens in a new windowNortheast Wisconsin Technical College – Green Bay, Wisconsin
- opens in a new windowOxnard College (Ventura County Community College District) – Oxnard, California
- opens in a new windowSouth Central College – North Mankato, Minnesota
- opens in a new windowSouth Louisiana Community College – Lafayette, Louisiana
- opens in a new windowTexas State Technical College – Waco, Texas
- opens in a new windowWestern Dakota Technical College – Rapid City, South Dakota
The newly added schools are joining the veteran 31 schools invited to continue. Each year the returning colleges play an integral part in helping guide the success of the new schools.
Current Metallica Scholars Community Colleges:
- opens in a new windowClark State Community College – Springfield, Ohio
- opens in a new windowCentral Community College – Grand Island, Nebraska
- opens in a new windowCentral Piedmont Community College – Charlotte, North Carolina
- opens in a new windowClackamas Community College – Oregon City, Oregon
- opens in a new windowClinton Community College – Clinton, Iowa
- opens in a new windowCollege of Lake County – Grayslake, Illinois
- opens in a new windowColumbia Gorge Community College – The Dalles, Oregon
- opens in a new windowCommunity College of Baltimore County – Baltimore, Maryland
- opens in a new windowEast Central College – Union, Missouri
- opens in a new windowElizabethtown Community & Technical College – Elizabethtown, Kentucky
- opens in a new windowGateway Technical College – Kenosha, Wisconsin
- opens in a new windowGrand Rapids Community College – Grand Rapids, Michigan
- opens in a new windowGuilford Technical Community College – Jamestown, North Carolina
- opens in a new windowHudson County Community College – Jersey City, New Jersey
- opens in a new windowLone Star College – The Woodlands, Texas
- opens in a new windowMiddlesex Community College – Lowell, Massachusetts
- opens in a new windowMilwaukee Area Technical College – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- opens in a new windowMississippi Gulf Coast Community College – Perkinston, Mississippi
- opens in a new windowNorthern Virginia Community College – Annandale, Virginia
- opens in a new windowNorthwest-Shoals Community College – Muscle Shoals, Alabama
- opens in a new windowPima Community College – Tuscon, Arizona
- opens in a new windowPolk State College – Winter Haven, Florida
- opens in a new windowRockland Community College – Suffern, New York
- opens in a new windowSalt Lake Community College – Salt Lake City, Utah
- opens in a new windowSan Juan College – Farmington, New Mexico
- opens in a new windowSpokane Community College – Spokane, Washington
- opens in a new windowValencia College – Orlando, Florida
- opens in a new windowVictor Valley College – Victorville, California
- opens in a new windowWest Virginia University Parkersburg – Parkersburg, Wes Virginia
- opens in a new windowWestchester Community College – Valhalla, New York
- opens in a new windowWSU-Tech – Wichita, Kansas
What began with 10 colleges and mostly manufacturing programs in its first round in 2019 has developed into a diverse list of workforce opportunities for students who are interested in gaining the skills and training necessary to find meaningful and well-paying careers in fields and positions including:
Agriculture
Automation and Robotics
Automotive Technology
Aviation, Computer-Aided Drafting & Design
Carpentry
Computerized Manufacturing (CNC)
Construction Technology
Criminal Justice
Culinary Arts
Cybersecurity
Diesel Technology
Dental Hygiene
Electrical Engineering
EMT
Fire Technology
Healthcare
Heating & Ventilation (HVAC)
Heavy Equipment Operator
Hospitality
Industrial Maintenance Technology
Lineworker
Manufacturing & Machining
Mechanical Design
Mechatronics Engineering
Process Technology
Trucking (CDL)
Welding
Wind Energy
About American Association of Community Colleges
As the voice of the nation’s community colleges, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), delivers educational and economic opportunity for nearly 12 million diverse students in search of the American Dream. Uniquely dedicated to access and success for all students, AACC’s member colleges provide an on-ramp to degree attainment, skilled careers, and family-supporting wages. Located in Washington, D.C., AACC advocates for these not-for-profit, public-serving institutions to ensure they have the resources and support they need to deliver on the mission of increasing economic mobility for all. https://www.aacc.nche.edu/
About All Within My Hands Foundation (AWMH)
All Within My Hands Foundation was established in 2017 by Metallica to invest in the people and places that have supported the band. It also allows Metallica’s fans to engage in philanthropy and volunteerism. The Foundation is dedicated to creating sustainable communities through workforce education, the fight against hunger, and other critical local services. All expenses of the Foundation are covered by the band, the board, and a few special friends so that 100% of donations go to the organizations it supports. AWMH is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
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