Washington, D.C. (July 12, 2022) Spokane Community College (SCC) returns for the fourth year as part of the Metallica Scholar program to receive $25,000 to transform the future of students in the community.
Since establishing the Metallica Scholars Initiative in 2019, All Within My Hands (AWMH) has been working with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) to provide direct support for career and technical education programs across the US. Having grown from a concept to a thriving educational strategy that focuses on enhancing skills while providing services to students looking to enter a traditional trade or other applied learning program, the Metallica Scholars Initiative has generated a proven and measurable impact. AWMH will replicate the program further by adding ten more schools to the roster, investing $1.8 million to expand in year four.
“Our goal for the Metallica Scholars Initiative is to shine a light on workforce education and support the next generation of tradespeople," said Pete Delgrosso, Executive Director, All Within My Hands. "With the addition of the 2022-2023 Metallica Scholars program, our grants will reach over 2,000 men and women in 32 community colleges across 27 states. We are honored to support these students of all ages and backgrounds and look forward to growing the program even farther in the future.”
Direct impact on job and wage growth drives the Metallica Scholars Initiative. On average, students who complete the program see new job opportunities and increased salary potential up to three times higher than pre-program. Spokane Community College will focus its efforts on supporting adult students transitioning from Adult Basic Education/HS Completion programs to college level workforce programs, and high school students attending SCC workforce programs through the Running Start for Careers program. The college’s goal is to elevate students’ skill sets by meeting industry standards and raising the level of academic programs offered.
“Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation has been a great partner for SCC over the past four years,” said SCC President Kevin Brockbank. “Their commitment and focus on helping student achieve workforce credentials has changed the lives of many students and helped grow our local workforce.”
Funded by Metallica’s All Within My Hands (AWMH) and led by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the Metallica Scholars Initiative is designed to directly support students while elevating the importance of career and technical education. Metallica continues to use its global platform to speak out on the dignity of professional trades and community colleges that prepare students.
Working closely with the AACC, a Washington D.C.-based advocate for not-for-profit, public-serving institutions, AWMH has selected ten schools to receive $100,000 each to transform the future of students in their communities. The extensive proposal process received an incredible amount of interest, and the applications were of the highest quality. Each of the ten institutions chosen intends to prioritize students interested in the skilled trades as a pathway to economic development.
“The Metallica Scholars program has proven to provide significant resources for community college students looking to learn the skills needed for today’s workforce,” said Walter G. Bumphus, AACC’s president and CEO. “We are honored to partner with the All Within My Hands Foundation to continue to expand this opportunity for community colleges and their students.”
To provide skilled and educated tradespeople ready for the local workforce, Metallica Scholars programs include a wide array of career and technical programs, such as automation, aviation, healthcare, industrial maintenance technology, welding and more.
To learn more about the Metallica Scholars Initiative, please visit the scholarship website.