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Metallica Scholars Initiative to support BSC students with $1,000 scholarships

Published: Jul 22 2026
Metallica Scholars Initiative to support BSC students with $1,000 scholarships - Photo
Bismarck State College (BSC) is proud to announce it is once again participating in the prestigious Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI). This year, BSC is supported by a generous $25,000 grant aimed at removing financial barriers with scholarships and enhancing the student experience and career readiness in the BSC Industrial Automation & Robotics and Mechanical Maintenance Technology programs.
 
BSC will use the grant funding to offer $1,000 scholarships to students who enroll full-time in one of the two qualifying programs for the 2026-2027 academic year. The scholarship funding can be used towards tuition and the cost of books for the program. Scholarship applications are due by Friday, Sept. 4, and can be completed online at bismarckstate.edu/MetallicaScholars.
 
"As North Dakota's Polytechnic Institution, we focus on equipping students with the skills and confidence they need to succeed in high-wage, high-tech industries," said Alicia Uhde, BSC vice president for academic affairs. Median salaries in these two technical fields range from $65,000 to $74,000 a year in North Dakota.
 
As a three-time MSI participant, BSC has received a total of $150,000 in support of career and technical education programs throughout the initiative's existence.
 
"The Metallica Scholars Initiative helps remove financial barriers so more students can access hands-on education in high-demand technical fields. We are proud to continue this partnership, which not only changes students' lives but also helps build the skilled workforce our region depends on," said Uhde.
 
All Within My Hands (AWMH) is a non-profit, philanthropic organization created by the members and management of the band Metallica. It is dedicated to creating sustainable communities by supporting workforce education and other community-strengthening initiatives. This is the eighth year of the MSI, and it has announced its largest grant to date: more than $3.3M. Eighteen new U.S. schools will join the returning 75 colleges in the fall, bringing the total to 93 schools in the program. Later this year, the MSI will expand to the United Kingdom in partnership with Capital City College Group in London. 
 
Metallica’s James Hetfield said, “This thing started as a dream. 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 8 includes a wide range of fields, including nursing and healthcare, optical systems technology, automotive repair, maritime manufacturing, firefighting and EMT, pipefitting, and agricultural pathways. 
 
Dr. DeRionne P. Pollard, President and CEO, AACC, said, “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.  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.”
 
The initiative’s eighth iteration also marks the renewal of AWMH’s partnerships with Carhartt, Wolverine, CNH Construction, and Upstaging, Inc., as well as the addition of the Foundation’s newest partner, ServiceTitan. These corporate partners complement the Foundation’s Executive and Advisory Board Members and the broader Metallica Family, all of whom have played a role in advancing AWMH’s mission and driving its success.
 
Peter Delgrosso, Executive Director, AWMH, said, “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. 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.”
 
For a complete list of all 93 colleges currently supported by AWMH, visit allwithinmyhands.org/metallica-scholars.