Columbia State Community College is proud to announce its selection as one of the community colleges invited to join Year 7 of the prestigious Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI).

This year marks Columbia State’s third year of participation in the Initiative, supported by a generous $25,000 grant aimed at enhancing access to the Pre-Apprentice Lineworker Academy.

The college is the first, and only, community college in Tennessee that has received an MSI grant in the 7 years of the Initiative.

“The renewal of our Metallica Scholars Initiative grant represents another year of opportunity for aspiring lineworkers in Middle Tennessee,” said Patrick McElhiney, Columbia State director of grants. “This year’s focused investment in our Pre-Apprentice Lineworker Academy removes financial obstacles that might otherwise prevent talented individuals from pursuing this rewarding and essential career path. Every scholarship recipient has the opportunity to become part of the workforce that keeps our communities powered and connected.”

During the 2024-2025 academic year, Columbia State provided MSI-funded scholarships to 48 students across two high-demand career programs. Twenty-six students in the Pre-Apprentice Lineworker Academy received scholarships covering a significant portion of their program tuition costs. Additionally, 22 dual-enrolled students in the emergency medical technician program at East Hickman, Fairview and Creek Wood high schools received comprehensive "last dollar" scholarships that eliminated all out-of-pocket expenses. These EMT scholarships covered tuition and fees not addressed by the state's Dual Enrollment Grant, as well as additional program costs including background checks, uniforms, boots and access to an online scheduling and skill tracking platform for hands-on training experiences.

All Within My Hands (AWMH), the non-profit, philanthropic organization created by the members and management of Metallica, recently announced its Year 7 of its Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) with its largest grant to date, totaling approximately $3M. MSI now has a presence in 75 colleges across all 50 United States and the territory of Guam and is expected to reach approximately 10,000 students.

“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 of hundred students, and we’re now in 75 schools nationwide, about to reach 10,000 students. It’s just incredible.”

-Robert Trujillo, Metallica Band Member

Launched in 2019 by All Within My Hands in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), MSI began with 10 colleges focused primarily on Manufacturing programs. The workforce initiative has since expanded to offer opportunities in diverse fields for students interested in gaining the skills and training necessary to establish meaningful careers that provide family-sustaining wages. 

“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with the Metallica Scholars Initiative," said Tiffany Odom, Columbia State Workforce Solutions and Continuing Education coordinator. “As the only community college in Tennessee participating in this transformative initiative, Columbia State is proud to remove financial barriers for students pursuing high-demand careers in our Pre-Apprentice Lineworker Academy. The testimonials from our Metallica Scholars speak volumes about the life-changing impact of this partnership. Students are able to focus entirely on their education without the stress of financial burden, ultimately launching successful careers in essential industries that serve our communities. This renewed commitment from Metallica's All Within My Hands Foundation demonstrates their dedication to workforce education and creating sustainable career pathways for students who might not otherwise have these opportunities.”

To evaluate the program's efficacy, the University of Southern California (USC) Sol Price School of Public Policy independently researched and quantified MSI’s impact on the skilled trades and the return on investment (ROI) earlier this year. The research extended into all Year 6 community colleges, covering more than 350 fields of study at these institutions, measuring the cost of completion and anticipated salaries post-graduation. The key observation is that the ROI – the ratio of a program’s cost to anticipated median wage – across all MSI-supported programs is a very high and cost-efficient 8.3X. This means that on average, MSI graduates can expect to earn 8.3X the upfront cost of their program during their first year in the workforce.

“2025 is a watershed moment for the Metallica Scholars Initiative,” stated Peter Delgrosso, Executive Director, All Within My Hands. “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.”

Year 7 also marks the renewal of AWMH’s partnership with the Lowe’s Foundation, which has provided $1 million in support as part of its five-year, $50 million commitment to prepare 50,000 people for skilled trades careers.

It takes a village to achieve these results, including the continued support from many long-time corporate partners of AWMH, notably workwear manufacturers Carhartt, Wolverine, and CNH, a global leader in agricultural and construction equipment. The aforementioned, along with the extended Metallica Family of fans, have staunchly supported AWMH from day one and worked tirelessly to advance its mission.

For a complete list of all 75 colleges currently supported by AWMH, visit allwithinmyhands.org/metallica-scholars.

For more information on Columbia State’s partnership with the Metallica Scholars Initiative, please visit columbiastate.edu/metallica/metallica-scholars.

And for more information on Columbia State Workforce & Continuing Education’s pre-apprenticeship lineworker academy, please visit columbiastate.edu/workforce-continuing-education/lineworker-academy.

About All Within My Hands

All Within My Hands (AWMH) is a non-profit, philanthropic organization conceived by the members and management of Metallica and dedicated to creating sustainable communities by supporting workforce education, the fight against hunger, and other critical local services. 100% of donations go directly to local organizations that the Foundation supports. To date, All Within My Hands’ collective efforts have granted over $25M— providing $13.5M in grants to career and technical education programs, over $7.5M to combat food insecurity, and more than $5M to disaster relief efforts. To learn more about All Within My Hands, visit AllWithinMyHands.org and follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

About the American Association of Community Colleges

As the voice of the nation’s community colleges, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) delivers educational and economic opportunity for more than 10 million diverse students in search of the American Dream. Uniquely dedicated to access and success for all students, AACC’s member colleges provide an on-ramp to degree attainment, skilled careers, and family-supporting wages. Located in Washington, D.C., AACC advocates for these not-for-profit, public-serving institutions to ensure they have the resources and support they need to deliver on the mission of increasing economic mobility for all. https://www.aacc.nche.edu/