Chattahoochee Valley Community College (CVCC) is proud to announce its selection as one of 15 nationwide recipients to join Year 7 of the prestigious Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI). Supported by a generous $75,000 grant, the college's programs will be enhanced with:

• Tuition assistance for up to nine credit hours for students in the HVAC, industrial maintenance, advanced automotive manufacturing, and welding programs.

• An additional $230 provided to each student in the above-mentioned programs to help with personal equipment, examination fees, and other costs.

• A plan to serve 30 students.

• A goal for all 30 students to receive an industry-recognized credential within the applied technologies program by the completion of the grant cycle.

"We are honored to receive the Metallica Scholarship Grant, which will provide valuable resources for students in our applied technologies programs,” said CVCC President Jackie Screws. “This funding will help remove financial barriers by covering tuition for up to nine credit hours and offering additional support for essential tools, equipment, and certification fees. Our goal is to ensure that all 30 participating students earn industry-recognized credentials that will open doors to meaningful careers in HVAC, industrial maintenance, advanced automotive manufacturing, and welding. This grant is an investment not only in our students, but in the future workforce of our community.”

All Within My Hands (AWMH), the non-profit, philanthropic organization created by the members and management of Metallica, recently announced its Year 7 of its Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) with its largest grant to date, totaling approximately $3M. MSI now has a presence in 75 colleges across all 50 United States and the territory of Guam and is expected to reach approximately 10,000 students.

“I could not be any prouder of our Metallica Scholars. We know that our country needs millions of skilled tradespeople, and it warms my heart to know that our Foundation’s efforts are making a positive impact and putting hard-working people on the path to careers in the trades. Whether it’s a school visit or a meet and greet before a show, there is no better feeling than meeting our Metallica Scholars in person and hearing their stories of grit and determination firsthand, along with their pride and commitment. It is truly inspiring. To think we started with a few schools and a couple hundred students, and we’re now in 75 schools nationwide, about to reach 10,000 students. It’s just incredible,” said Robert Trujillo, Metallica Band Member.

Launched in 2019 by All Within My Hands in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), MSI began with 10 colleges focused primarily on Manufacturing programs. The workforce initiative has since expanded to offer opportunities in diverse fields for students interested in gaining the skills and training necessary to establish meaningful careers that provide family-sustaining wages.

To evaluate the program's efficacy, the University of Southern California (USC) Sol Price School of Public Policy independently researched and quantified MSI’s impact on the skilled trades and the return on investment (ROI) earlier this year. The research extended into all Year 6 community colleges, covering more than 350 fields of study at these institutions, measuring the cost of completion and anticipated salaries post-graduation. The key observation is that the ROI – the ratio of a program’s cost to anticipated median wage – across all MSI-supported programs is a very high and cost-efficient 8.3X. This means that on average, MSI graduates can expect to earn 8.3X the upfront cost of their program during their first year in the workforce.

“2025 is a watershed moment for the Metallica Scholars Initiative,” stated Peter Delgrosso, Executive Director, All Within My Hands. “With the addition of 15 new schools this fall and USC’s independent research articulating the strength of our results, we are eager to tackle the quantifiable shortage of skilled labor our nation faces. If we extrapolate these ROI numbers over a career, it demonstrates how effective and profitable learning a trade can be for the individual, and how society as a whole also benefits from community college graduates. This insight will profoundly affect MSI going forward, impacting how people view careers in the trades, encouraging more corporate and individual sponsorship, and driving its advancement across the country. We're thrilled to incorporate these findings into this year’s planning and expansion.”

Year 7 also marks the renewal of AWMH’s partnership with the Lowe’s Foundation, which has provided $1 million in support as part of its five-year, $50 million commitment to prepare 50,000 people for skilled trades careers.

It takes a village to achieve these results, including the continued support from many long-time corporate partners of AWMH, notably workwear manufacturers Carhartt, Wolverine, and CNH, a global leader in agricultural and construction equipment. The aforementioned, along with the extended Metallica Family of fans, have staunchly supported AWMH from day one and worked tirelessly to advance its mission.

Newly Added Metallica Scholar Colleges:

• Allan Hancock College - Santa Maria, CA

• Atlantic Cape Community College - Mays Landing, NJ

• Chattahoochee Valley Community College - Phenix City, AL

• College of Southern Idaho - Twin Falls, ID

• Community College of Beaver County - Monaca, PA

• De Anza College - Cupertino, CA

• Eastern New Mexico University–Ruidoso - Ruidoso, NM

• Ivy Tech Community College Columbus - Columbus, IN

• Laramie County Community College - Cheyenne, WY

• Leeward Community College - Pearl City, HI

• Mott Community College - Flint, MI

• Northeast Community College - Norfolk, NE

• Northland Pioneer College - Holbrook, AZ

• Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College - Orangeburg, SC

• Salish Kootenai College - Pablo, MT

For a complete list of all 75 colleges currently supported by AWMH, visit allwithinmyhands.org/metallica-scholars.