Flathead Valley Community College added to Metallica Scholars Initiative

Flathead Valley Community College has been selected as one of 18 recipients nationwide this year to join the prestigious Metallica Scholars Initiative.

The honor comes as part of the largest expansion of the initiative to date, supported by a $75,000 grant aimed to support the community college's occupational trades students to help reach their educational goals.

“This grant comes at a crucial time, as we continue to see the demand for skilled workers grow in our community and beyond,” said Blake Thompson, director, FVCC Trades and Industrial Arts. “The Metallica Scholars Initiative exemplifies the profound impact that can be achieved when philanthropy and education come together. We look forward to seeing the enduring positive outcomes this grant will bring to our students and community.”

FVCC was the only college in Montana selected to join the Metallica Scholars Iniative. The majority of the grant funds will be distributed as $200 scholarships to nearly 300 returning students enrolled in FVCC's occupational trades programs for the Fall 2024 semester.

Launched in 2019 by All Within My Hands in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges, the initiative began with 10 colleges and primarily manufacturing programs. With steady development by creative and dedicated leadership, the initiative offers diverse workforce opportunities for students interested in gaining the skills and training necessary to find meaningful and well-paying careers. Additional curricula will include construction, health care, and engineering, contributing to 30 fields of study offered within the initiative. To date, All Within My Hands has invested over $10.5 million in the American workforce.

James “Papa Het” Hetfield, Metallica’s lead vocalist and guitarist, expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative's growth. 

“When we launched the Metallica Scholars Initiative, it really spoke to me," he said in a statement. "A collective goal of breaking the stigma of trade skills. Trade skills are vital to society, and what’s even more important is to support the many folks who are trying to create a career by learning and using these skills. I am so proud - we all are - to see how this program is changing lives by providing much-needed resources to empower students, and it’s great that we’re able to make our biggest grant yet to support these students and the future workforce. We are reaching even further for year six of the Metallica Scholars Initiative. This year, our program will be in 60 schools in all 50 states. All thanks to your support.”

“I am happy to congratulate the newest Metallica Scholarship Initiative colleges. The sustained investment in workforce education by the All Within My Hands Foundation has benefited thousands of community college students,” said Walter G. Bumphus, president and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges, in a statement. “This work helps to advance skills education and the nation’s workforce pipeline. We are honored to continue this partnership to provide critical resources that eliminate barriers for students to participate in skills education programs that lead to family-sustaining wage careers.”

By the end of year six, the Metallica Scholars Initiative estimates that it will have helped more than 8,000 students with a wide range of backgrounds and ages gain skills to assist in finding meaningful jobs and careers.

Metallica Scholars are often considered non-traditional students, as many have families they support or are the first in their families to pursue a college education. All Within My Hands and the American Association Community Colleges aim to connect students to skill-building opportunities and bridge the talent needs of the American workforce, all while utilizing the community college system.

“Metallica, through their foundation, is changing how people view and engage with the trades in this country, and it is working,” stated Peter Delgrosso, executive director of All Within My Hands, in a statement. “Metallica Scholars are diverse, motivated and ambitious, and we are here to help them reach their goals. I am so proud and honored to be able to announce entrance into all 50 states as this is a significant milestone for not only our foundation but the incredible community we have helped foster and connect.”

For a complete list of all 60 colleges currently supported by AWMH, visit allwithinmyhands.org/metallica-scholars. For more information about FVCC occupational trades offerings, visit fvcc.edu/occupation-trades.