Metallica Scholars Initiative Sends $50K Grant To Del Tech To Support Workforce Training

The Metallica grant will help train 17 Del Tech students to further their advancement into the workforce. (Photo courtesy of All Within My Hands)

The Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) has sent $50,000 to Delaware Technical Community College to help train more than a dozen students to enter the workforce.

MSI is a nationwide workforce development program created by the legendary heavy metal band Metallica through its charitable foundation, All Within My Hands.

The funds will support the training of 17 students across two Delaware Tech campuses — eight certified nursing assistants (CNAs) at the Owens Campus in Georgetown and nine emergency medical technicians (EMTs) at the Terry Campus in Dover.

College President Mark Brainard said the funding will directly address workforce needs in Delaware’s health care and emergency services sectors.

“This generous funding will help us deliver on our mission to respond to the needs of Delaware’s employers through workforce training programs for critical positions in Delaware’s health care and emergency services sectors,” he said. “We are grateful to All Within My Hands and the American Association of Community Colleges for their support of Delaware Tech and our students.”

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Now in its seventh year, the Metallica Scholars Initiative is expanding to include 75 community colleges across all 50 states and Guam.

Backed by a record $3 million in grants this year, the initiative is expected to impact nearly 10,000 students nationwide.

Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo, a vocal supporter of the program, emphasized its role in helping fill the growing demand for skilled tradespeople.

“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,” he said. “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 that the program started with a few schools and a couple hundred students and has grown to 75 schools nationwide and about 10,000 students is incredible, Trujillo said.

MSI was launched in 2019 in collaboration with the American Association of Community Colleges, initially focusing on manufacturing programs.

Since then, it has expanded to support students entering a wide range of high-demand fields.

A recent independent study by the University of Southern California’s Sol Price School of Public Policy evaluated the program’s return on investment and found that graduates earn, on average, more than eight times the cost of their training programs in their first year of employment.

Peter Delgrosso, executive director of All Within My Hands, said the research affirms the long-term value of investing in trades education.

“2025 is a watershed moment for the Metallica Scholars Initiative,” he said. “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, he said, 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,” he said.

This year’s expansion also includes renewed support from the Lowe’s Foundation, which is contributing $1 million as part of a five-year, $50 million commitment to skilled trades training.

For a full list of participating colleges, click here.