Photo: AFP
Metallica is committing $100,000 grants to nine community colleges to help students in trade programs prepare for the workforce.
The band's All Within My Hands Foundation (AWMH) partnered with the American Association of Community Colleges to select the schools as part of its Metallica Scholars initiative.
The Scholars initiative is now in its third year, as the band has made a point to support students studying for careers in the trades. To date, the AWMH has granted $4.1 million in grants to career and technical education programs.
"As a touring entity, we are in direct involvement with multiple essential career choices along our path," Metallica's James Hetfield explained. "From electrical, professional driving, culinary, mechanical maintenance, public safety, logistical organizers. And that just scratches the surface. Those, along with a multitude of other technical careers, make our touring and our performances possible. We are passionate and grateful to these trades and tradespeople."
The schools being awarded grants this year are:
- Northwest-Shoals Community College, Muscle Shoals, Alabama
- Pima County Community College, Tucson, Arizona
- Hartnell College, Salinas, California
- Victor Valley College, Victorville, California
- Clinton Community College, Clinton, Iowa
- Central Community College, Grand Island, Nebraska
- Columbia Gorge Community College, The Dalles, Oregon
- Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale, Virginia
- West Virginia University Parkersburg, Parkersburg, West Virginia
"The Foundation and the band pay attention and follow these programs and students, and there is no doubt that lives have been changed," said AWMH executive director Dr. Edward Frank. "What makes this work so unique is that, in addition to supporting students directly, our goal is not just to change individual lives, it is to unabashedly promote the trades as meaningful and well-paying career pathways. We are not afraid to be loud nor to dig in on things we believe in, and we believe in these students."