Polk State awarded $15,000 in continued partnership with Metallica’s All Within My Hands

Polk State College is proud to continue its partnership with Metallica’s All Within My Hands, which has awarded the College $15,000 in its seventh year as a grant recipient. Since 2020, Polk State has benefited from $205,000 in grant funding through this initiative to support students in the Computer Numeric Control (CNC) Machining Program.

All Within My Hands (AWMH), the nonprofit, philanthropic organization created by the members and management of Metallica, is incredibly proud to announce the largest expansion of its Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) and its largest grant to date. The Metallica Scholars Initiative now has a presence in more than 90 colleges across all 50 U.S. states and the territory of Guam. The Foundation is also launching its first international workforce endeavor with a $250,000 grant to establish the Metallica Scholars Initiative in the United Kingdom in partnership with Capital City College Group (CCC).

“This thing started as a dream,” Metallica’s James Hetfield said. “Now our program is changing lives. To expand our impact on a global scale and support even more students is so rewarding. We’re so proud of all the Metallica Scholars who have come through it and all the ones who will participate in it. It’s humbling to know we’ve been part of the journey of thousands of trade professionals doing good, hard work in the world.”

AWMH continues to work closely with its long-time partner, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). Launched in 2019 by All Within My Hands, MSI’s core focus is supporting conventional trades, including welders, plumbers and electricians, while also adding fields that will generate the jobs of tomorrow. The workforce initiative continues to evolve, supporting diverse fields for students interested in gaining the skills and training necessary to establish meaningful careers that provide family-sustaining wages. Year eight includes a wide range of fields, including nursing and healthcare, optical systems technology, automotive repair, maritime manufacturing, firefighting and EMT, pipefitting and agricultural pathways.

“The continued growth of the Metallica Scholars Initiative is a powerful testament to what’s possible when visionary philanthropy and community colleges come together around a shared mission,” said Dr. DeRionne P. Pollard, President and CEO for AACC. “Through this partnership, 13,000 community college students have already been supported across the country, earning the skills needed for in-demand careers with family-sustaining wages. This latest, generous investment by Metallica’s foundation will reach more learners while strengthening the workforce pipelines that power local economies. We are proud to partner with All Within My Hands to scale this impact, ensuring even more students have access to life-changing opportunities in the skilled trades and beyond.”

Given Metallica’s global fan base and the universal need for more tradespeople, the Foundation has long envisioned expanding its workforce education program beyond the United States. As a result of MSI’s measurable success in the U.S., AWMH forged a partnership with Capital City College Group to bring the initiative to the UK. CCC dates back to 1828 and has over 30,000 students across 12 distinct locations throughout London. The expansion will launch in the fall, focusing on serving aspiring tradespeople preparing to enter the workforce through vocational programs.

“Metallica Scholars Year 8 will see our largest-scale growth yet, as we anticipate supporting close to 4,000 new students in the United States and more than 1,000 learners in the UK for a total of 5,000 across the program,” stated Peter Delgrosso, Executive Director of All Within My Hands. “This represents an approximate 40% increase in our student body, something we are incredibly excited about. Supporting people of all ages entering and ascending through trades is the right thing to do, not just domestically, but also abroad. Our Metallica Scholars have demonstrated resilience and a strong determination to succeed, which in turn motivates us to match their ambition.”

A complete list of all 93 colleges supported by AWMH is available at allwithinmyhands.org/metallica-scholars.

“Polk State remains committed to ensuring our students are prepared not only to earn credentials, but to enter the workforce with the skills and confidence needed to succeed,” Polk State President Anastasios Kamoutsas added. “The continued support of Metallica’s All Within My Hands strengthens that commitment and aligns with Florida’s broader mission to expand workforce education and connect students with opportunities in high-demand careers. We are grateful for this partnership and the lasting impact it continues to have on our students, our local industries and our community.”

About AWMH

Established in 2017, All Within My Hands (AWMH) is a nonprofit, 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. Metallica covers all administrative costs, so 100% of donations go directly to the organizations supported by the Foundation. To date, All Within My Hands’ collective efforts have raised over $29 million to support its mission and provided grants of $15.3 million to career and technical education programs through its Metallica Scholars Initiative, $8.4 million to combat food insecurity, and $5.6 million to disaster relief and other critical local services worldwide. To learn more about All Within My Hands, visit AllWithinMyHands.org and follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Bluesky and Threads.

About AACC

The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) is the primary advocacy organization for the nation’s community colleges. Located in Washington, D.C., the association represents the interests of more than 1,000 two-year, associate degree-granting institutions and nearly 10.5 million students. 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.

About Polk State College

Located in Polk County, Florida, and established in 1964, Polk State College is a multi-campus institution serving more than 14,000 students with Bachelor of Applied Science, Bachelor of Science, Associate in Arts, and Associate in Science degrees, as well as 9,000 individuals in a wide range of certificate and workforce training programs. The College also operates three charter high schools.

Polk State’s advantages include small class sizes; hands-on learning; dedicated faculty; day and night classes; online options; affordable tuition; excellent financial aid; and a diverse community and vibrant student life, including fine arts opportunities, clubs and intercollegiate athletics.