Middlesex Community College Receives $100K Grant From ... Metallica?

BEDFORD, MA — Middlesex Community College (MCC) has learned it will receive $100,000 to support students in career and technical education programs.

The source of the funding: the All Within My Hands (AWMH) Foundation's Metallica Scholars Initiative, which was established by the members of the band Metallica and its management team.

Since 2019, the Metallica Scholars Initiative has partnered with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) to provide grants that support students while elevating the importance of career and technical education.

The money, which comes from the band's AWMH Foundation, is awarded to community colleges based on an extensive proposal process.

In the most recent round of funding, MCC was one of 10 schools to receive $100,000. Those colleges join an established core of 22 schools that were previously selected for the program and continue as Metallica Scholars schools.

"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 of the AWHM Foundation.

Delgrosso added: "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 further in the future."

Representatives of MCC said the funds it receives through the program will be directed to training students in electronic technology, one of the region's high-demand industries.

"We are thrilled to receive this funding from the Metallica Scholars Initiative and grateful to the historic band Metallica for the opportunity to join a respected cohort of community colleges across the country who hold this honor," said Phil Sisson, MCC's president.

Sisson continued: "Middlesex is a leader in educating the workforce and equipping employees with necessary training and skills to fill much-needed employment gaps within the Commonwealth.

"This funding will enable us to better reach a population who will thrive from these opportunities the most, ultimately transforming their futures in innumerable ways."