Valencia College has been selected for the sixth consecutive year to participate in the Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI), a program funded by Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation. Since joining MSI in 2020, Valencia College has received $195,000 in grants to support its Accelerated Skills Training program, which prepares students for skilled trades.
Carolyn McMorran, assistant vice president for Professional Continuing Education at Valencia College, said, “The All Within My Hands Foundation Metallica Scholars Program not only helps to uplift individuals to higher paying careers but also highlights the value of our trades-based careers in our community. Valencia is so very grateful for the support from the program and the ability to help students connect to meaningful work.”
All Within My Hands (AWMH), established by members and management of Metallica, recently announced that it will provide its largest grant yet—about $3 million—for Year 7 of MSI. The initiative now includes 75 colleges across all 50 states and Guam and aims to reach approximately 10,000 students.
Robert Trujillo, a member of Metallica, commented on the impact: “I could not be any prouder of our Metallica Scholars. We know that our country needs millions of skilled tradespeople, and it warms my heart to know that our Foundation’s efforts are making a positive impact and putting hard-working people on the path to careers in the trades. Whether it’s a school visit or a meet and greet before a show, there is no better feeling than meeting our Metallica Scholars in person and hearing their stories of grit and determination firsthand, along with their pride and commitment. It is truly inspiring. To think we started with a few schools and a couple hundred students, and we’re now in 75 schools nationwide, about to reach 10,000 students. It’s just incredible.”
MSI began in 2019 through AWMH’s partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). Initially focused on manufacturing programs at ten colleges, it has since expanded into multiple fields offering skills training for jobs that pay family-sustaining wages.
To assess MSI’s effectiveness, researchers at the University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy conducted an independent study earlier this year covering more than 350 fields across participating community colleges. The study found that graduates from MSI-supported programs earn an average return on investment (ROI) ratio of 8.3 times their program cost within their first year after graduation.
Peter Delgrosso, Executive Director at All Within My Hands, stated: “2025 is a watershed moment for the Metallica Scholars Initiative. With the addition of 15 new schools this fall and USC’s independent research articulating the strength of our results, we are eager to tackle the quantifiable shortage of skilled labor our nation faces. If we extrapolate these ROI numbers over a career, it demonstrates how effective and profitable learning a trade can be for the individual, and how society as a whole also benefits from community college graduates. This insight will profoundly affect MSI going forward, impacting how people view careers in the trades, encouraging more corporate and individual sponsorship, and driving its advancement across the country. We’re thrilled to incorporate these findings into this year’s planning and expansion.”
This year also marks AWMH’s renewed partnership with Lowe’s Foundation—which has committed $1 million as part of its broader five-year pledge aiming to prepare thousands for skilled trades roles nationwide.
Corporate partners such as Carhartt, Wolverine workwear manufacturers; CNH; as well as supporters from Metallica’s fan base continue backing AWMH’s mission.
A full list of all participating colleges can be found at allwithinmyhands.org/metallica-scholars.
