Columbia Gorge Community College (CGCC) is proud to announce its continued partnership with the prestigious Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI), entering its fifth year of participation in the program. This year marks not only a milestone for CGCC but also the largest expansion of the initiative to date, with Metallica Scholars now represented at 60 colleges across all 50 states and Guam.
“CGCC is so proud to have been an early Metallica Scholars partner, and we appreciate their continued support and innovative approach to helping our students get the education needed to enter into high-skills, high-wage careers in the trades,” said CGCC Vice President of Instructional Services, Jarett Gilbert.
Since joining MSI, more than 125 CGCC students in Construction Technology, Electro-Mechanical Technology, Advanced Manufacturing & Fabrication, and Aviation Maintenance Technology have received about $160,000 in tools, protective gear, and other essential equipment.
Unlike traditional scholarships that apply funds directly to tuition, Metallica Scholars are equipped with a comprehensive set of professional-quality tools designed to kickstart their trades careers on day one. Launched in 2019 in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the heavy metal band Metallica created the initiative to support and elevate career and technical education pathways nationwide.
“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,” said James Hetfield, lead singer and songwriter of Metallica. “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.”
The All Within My Hands (AWMH) Foundation, established by Metallica, funds the MSI. Walter G. Bumphus, president and CEO of AACC, praised the program’s impact: “The sustained investment in workforce education by the All Within My Hands Foundation has benefited thousands of community college students. 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.”
Peter Delgrosso, AWMH Executive Director, echoed the significance of this year’s expansion: “Metallica, through its foundation, is changing how people view and engage with the trades in this country, and it is working. 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.”
As the first Oregon community college certified as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), CGCC continues to serve as the heart of higher education in the greater Columbia River Gorge, offering credit and non-credit courses designed to prepare students for meaningful careers and advanced education.