Post From Community: MATC named a Metallica Scholars recipient to support ‘heavy metal’ education programs | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Darryll Fortune, MATC
July 22, 2022
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Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) was selected from a competitive field of community colleges across the country to receive $100,000 from the Metallica Scholars Initiative, All Within My Hands (AWMH) to transform the future of students in and around Milwaukee.
The funds, announced July 2022, will help prospective students, recent high school graduates, and adults discover and explore hands-on careers to build a workforce pipeline for “heavy metal” fields including automotive/diesel tech, truck driving, computerized manufacturing, HVAC and welding tech diploma and certificate programs. Scholarships will be provided based on students’ financial needs up to $1,000 per student.
“The mission of Metallica’s All Within My Hands aligns perfectly with our mission, which is to offer an education that transforms lives, industry and community,” said MATC President Vicki J. Martin. “This funding will help students enroll in our high quality, in-demand programs that meet local employer and community needs —  leading to careers that provide family-supporting wages and better lives.”
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Funded by Metallica’s AWMH and led by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the initiative is designed to directly support students while elevating the importance of career and technical education. Metallica continues to use its global platform to speak out on the dignity of professional trades and community colleges that prepare students.
“Our goal for the Metallica Scholars Initiative is to shine a light on workforce education and support the next generation of tradespeople,” said Pete Delgrosso, executive director, All Within My Hands. “With the addition of the 2022-23 Metallica Scholars program, our grants will reach over 2,000 men and women in 32 community colleges across 27 states. We are honored to support these students of all ages and backgrounds and look forward to growing the program even farther in the future.”
Direct impact on job and wage growth drives the Metallica Scholars Initiative. On average, students who complete the program see new job opportunities and increased salary potential up to three times higher than pre-program. Median wages for MATC’s heavy metal program graduates range from $40,000-$65,000 according to Wisconsin Hot Jobs data.
As a part of the program, 50 scholarships will be available starting this Fall and Spring semesters. Students interested in receiving the AWMH scholarship will be invited to apply through their academic advisors and Milwaukee Area Technical College Foundation Inc.
About All Within My Hands (AWMH)
Established by the members and management of Metallica in 2017 as a means to invest in the people and places that have supported the band, the Foundation is focused on supporting sustainable communities through workforce education, the fight against hunger and other critical local services. All expenses of the Foundation are covered by the band, the board and a few special friends so that 100% of donations go to the organizations it supports. AWMH is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
About American Association of Community Colleges (AACC)
As the voice of the nation’s community colleges, the AACC delivers educational and economic opportunity for more than 10 million diverse students searching for the American Dream. Uniquely dedicated to access and success for all students, AACC’s nearly 1,100 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.
About MATC
Wisconsin’s largest technical college and one of the most diverse two-year institutions in the Midwest, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a key driver of southeastern Wisconsin’s economy and has provided innovative education in the region since 1912. More than 25,000 students per year attend the college’s four campuses and community-based sites or learn online. MATC offers affordable and accessible education and training opportunities that empower and transform lives in the community. The college offers more than 170 academic programs; and transfer options leading to bachelor’s degrees with more than 40 four-year colleges and universities. Overwhelmingly, MATC graduates build careers and businesses in southeastern Wisconsin. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.