BCC Joins Nationally Recognized Metallica Scholars Initiative
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announced its selection as one of eighteen new schools to join the eighth year of the Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI).
Supported by a $75,000 grant aimed at enhancing the Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) program that is offered by the College and has seen successful graduation and placement rates for the past couple of years. These funds will allow the College to train three more cohorts of EMTs, which are needed in the Berkshires and beyond.
"Receiving this grant is so exciting, not only because we here at BCC get to tell folks that we have received funding to support our community EMTs from the one and only Metallica," Linda Clairmont, Executive Director of Workforce and Community Education at BCC said. "But because we have seen cuts to our grant funding in Workforce and having the resources to train more cohorts of EMTs is critical, and this lifeline is helping us fill those gaps, for which we are so grateful."
All Within My Hands (AWMH), the non-profit, philanthropic organization created by the members and management of Metallica, announced the eighth year of its Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) with its largest grant to date: over $3.3M. 18 new US schools will join the returning 75 colleges in the fall for a total of 93 in the program.
In addition, later this year the Metallica Scholars Initiative will also expand 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,"Metallica's James Hetfield said. "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."
AWMH continues to work closely with its long-time partner, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). Launched in 2019 by All Within My Hands, MSI's core focus is supporting conventional trades, including welders, plumbers, and electricians, while also adding fields that will generate the jobs of tomorrow. The workforce initiative continues to evolve, supporting diverse fields for students interested in gaining the skills and training necessary to establish meaningful careers that provide family-sustaining wages. Year 8 includes a wide range of fields, including nursing and healthcare, optical systems technology, automotive repair, maritime manufacturing, firefighting and EMT, pipefitting, and agricultural pathways.
Dr. DeRionne P. Pollard, President and CEO, AACC, 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."
The initiative's eighth iteration also marks the renewal of AWMH's partnerships with Carhartt, Wolverine, CNH Construction, and Upstaging, Inc., as well as the addition of the Foundation's newest partner, ServiceTitan. These corporate partners complement the Foundation's Executive and Advisory Board Members and the broader Metallica Family, all of whom have played a role in advancing AWMH's mission and driving its success.
Peter Delgrosso, Executive Director, AWMH, 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."
Newly Added Metallica Scholar Colleges:
For a complete list of all 93 colleges currently supported by AWMH, visit allwithinmyhands.org/metallica-scholars.
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