Guam Community College was selected this year as one of 18 nationwide recipients for the Metallica Scholars Initiative, which will support the college’s ship repair boot camps.
The college will receive a $75,000 grant to enhance its pre-vocational ship repair boot camps for the shipbuilding professions that are in high demand in Guam’s ship repair industry, GCC said in a press release.
GCC is the first college in a U.S. territory to receive the scholarship, the college said.
“Guam Community College is excited to be part of the Metallica Scholars Initiative, which will support our growing ship repair program, one of the most in-demand professions in our region,” GCC President Mary Okada said in a statement. “Strong partnerships have always been the hallmark of GCC’s success and we are excited to partner with MSI to expand our training capacity.”
Launched in 2019 by All Within My Hands in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges, MSI began with 10 colleges and primarily manufacturing programs.
Driven by creative and dedicated leadership, MSI offers a variety of employment opportunities for students interested in acquiring the skills and training needed to launch meaningful, well-paying careers.
Additional curricula include construction, healthcare and engineering, complementing the 30 majors offered through the initiative. To date, AWMH has invested over $10.5 million in the American workforce, reinforcing its commitment to career and technical education at the local level, the release said.
James “Papa Het” Hetfield, lead singer and guitarist of Metallica, expressed his excitement about the growth of the initiative.
“When we launched the Metallica Scholars Initiative, it really spoke to me. A shared goal to break the stigma of craft skills. Craft skills are vital to society, and what’s more important is supporting the many people trying to build a career by learning and using these skills,” Hetfield said in a statement.
He said everyone is proud of how the program is changing students’ lives by providing them with much-needed resources, and it’s great to be able to provide their largest grant yet to support students and the future world of work.
“In the sixth year of the Metallica Scholars Initiative, we are going even further. This year, our program will be held in 60 schools in all 50 states. All thanks to your support,” said Hetfield.
Walter G. Bumphus, president and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges, congratulated the newest colleges in the Metallica Scholarship Initiative.
“The All Within My Hands Foundation’s continued investment in career training has helped thousands of community college students,” he said. “This work helps advance the nation’s career training and job market. We are honored to continue this partnership to provide critical resources that remove barriers for students seeking to participate in career training programs that lead to family-sustaining careers.”
MSI estimates that by the end of the sixth year, more than 8,000 students from a wide variety of backgrounds and ages will be supported in acquiring the skills to help them find meaningful jobs and careers.
Metallica scholarship recipients are often considered non-traditional students because many of them are supporting families or are the first in their families to pursue a college education.
AWMH and AACC aim to provide students with opportunities to build skills and meet the American workforce’s need for skilled professionals by leveraging the community college system, which is the most cost-effective, flexible and industry-relevant provider of applied continuing education in the country, the press release said.
“Metallica, through its foundation, is changing the way people view and engage with craft in this country, and it’s working,” said Peter Delgrosso, executive director of All Within My Hands, in a statement. “Metallica Scholars are diverse, driven and ambitious, and we are here to help them achieve their goals. I am so proud and honored to announce entry into all 50 states, as this is a significant milestone not only for our foundation, but for the incredible community we have fostered and connected.”
For a complete list of all 60 colleges currently supported by AWMH, visit allwithinmyhands.org/metallica-scholars.
