FVCC Receives $75,000 Grant and Joins Metallica Scholars InitiativeWorkforce Education Program
July 24, 2024 — Kalispell, Mont. — Flathead Valley Community College has announced its
selection as one of 18 nationwide recipients this year to join the prestigious Metallica Scholars
Initiative (MSI). This honor comes as part of the largest expansion of the initiative to date,
supported by a generous $75,000 grant aimed to support FVCC 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 & 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 is the only college in Montana selected to join the MSI. 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 (AWMH) in partnership with the American Association
of Community Colleges (AACC), MSI began with ten colleges and primarily manufacturing
programs. With steady development by creative and dedicated leadership, MSI 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, AWMH
has invested over $10.5M in the American workforce, reaffirming a commitment to career and
technical education at the local level.
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.
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
AACC. “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, MSI 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. AWMH and AACC aim to
connect students to skill-building opportunities and bridge the talent needs of the American
workforce, all while utilizing the community college system, which is the most affordable,
flexible, and industry-relevant applied-learning training provider in the country.
“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. “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.
All Within My Hands (AWMH) is a non-profit, philanthropic organization created by Metallica and
dedicated to creating sustainable communities by supporting workforce education, the fight
against hunger, and other critical local services. Since its inception, AWMH has raised over $15
million, providing significant grants to career and technical education programs, combating food
insecurity, and aiding disaster relief efforts.
The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) is the voice of the nation’s
community colleges, delivering educational and economic opportunity for more than 10 million
diverse students. AACC advocates for community colleges to ensure they have the resources
needed to increase economic mobility for all.
For more information about FVCC occupational trades offerings, visit
fvcc.edu/occupation-trades.