Latest grant brings Metallica Scholars Initiative support for SoLAcc to $190,000
South Louisiana Community College (SoLAcc) will continue its participation in the Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) for a fourth consecutive year, receiving a $15,000 grant to support students in the College’s Precision Machining workforce training program.
This year’s funding will provide scholarships for four Precision Machining students, helping offset the cost of training as they prepare for careers in advanced manufacturing. With this latest award, SoLAcc has received $190,000 through the Metallica Scholars Initiative since joining the program four years ago.
All Within My Hands (AWMH), the nonprofit philanthropic organization created by the members and management of Metallica, announced the eighth year of the Metallica Scholars Initiative with more than $3.3 million in funding. Eighteen new U.S. schools will join 75 returning colleges this year, bringing the initiative to 93 colleges nationwide. The program will also expand internationally 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,” said Metallica’s James Hetfield.
Launched in 2019 by All Within My Hands in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the Metallica Scholars Initiative was created to support career and technical education and help students gain the skills and training needed for meaningful, family-sustaining careers. The initiative began with 10 colleges and has continued to expand both its reach and the range of programs supported.
Year 8 includes programs across a variety of fields, including conventional trades such as welding, plumbing and electrical, as well as nursing and healthcare, automotive repair, maritime manufacturing, firefighting and EMT, pipefitting, agricultural pathways and other technical fields.
“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,” said Dr. DeRionne P. Pollard, President and CEO of AACC. “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.”
For a complete list of colleges participating in the Metallica Scholars Initiative, visit AllWithinMyHands.org/Metallica-Scholars.