North Central State College joins Metallica Scholars Initiative

North Central State College is one of 18 schools to join the Metallica Scholars Initiative, an effort of the nonprofit organization All Within My Hands. The Metallica Scholars Initiative is in its eighth year of supporting students at community colleges and trade schools as they pursue a technical or trades education. In addition to joining the Metallica Scholars Initiative, North Central State College has also received a $75,000 grant from All Within My Hands to support and enhance the college’s health sciences programs.

According to an article on North Central State College’s website, James Hetfield of Metallica was quoted as saying of the Metallica Scholars Initiative, “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.”

The Metallica Scholars Initiative is an effort of All Within My Hands, a nonprofit philanthropic organization of the members and managers of the band Metallica. All Within My Hands partners with the American Association of Community Colleges. This year, the eighth year of the Metallica Scholars Initiative, brings in 18 new schools to the network, bringing the total number of participating schools to 93 in the United States. The initiative supports students pursuing careers as welders, plumbers, electricians, nurses, healthcare workers, optical systems technologists, automotive repair professionals, maritime manufacturers, firefighters and EMTs, pipefitters, and agricultural professionals.

Peter Delgrosso, the Executive Director of All Within My Hands, said, “Metallica Scholars Year 8 will see our largest-scale growth yet, as we anticipate supporting close to 4,000 new students in the United States and more than 1,000 learners in the UK. This represents an approximate 40% increase in our student body, something we are incredibly excited about. Supporting people of all ages entering and ascending through trades is the right thing to do, not just domestically, but also abroad. Our Metallica Scholars have demonstrated resilience and a strong determination to succeed, which in turn motivates us to match their ambition.”

Dr. DeRionne P. Pollard, who serves as the President and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges, said, “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. 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.”

All Within My Hands partners with Carhartt, Wolverine, CNH Construction, Upstaging, Inc., and ServiceTitan. 

Leesa Cox, the Dean of Health Sciences at North Central State College, said, “Our nursing students are already bringing the heart, determination, and effort it takes to succeed. Thanks to [the] Metallica Scholars program, they’ll have even more support to keep moving forward. This investment isn’t just helping students earn a degree, it’s helping build a stronger healthcare system for our region. We’re proud to see our students recognized as the future of healthcare in our community.”

For more information about North Central State College, visit the school’s website.