Tuesday, October 7, 2025
For Immediate Release
Media Contacts:
Atlantic Cape Community College
David M. Zuba, Public Relations Manager and Copywriter
(609) 343-4933
All Within My Hands Foundation
Renee Richardson, Director of Philanthropy
renee@allwithinmyhands.org
(415) 458-1532 x10
American Association of Community Colleges
Dr. Martha M. Parham, Sr. Vice President, Public Relations
mparham@aacc.nche.edu
(202) 728-0200
Atlantic Cape Receives $75,000 Grant from Metallica Scholars Initiative to Support Aviation Program
MAYS LANDING, NJ - Atlantic Cape Community College is proud to announce its selection as one of 15 nationwide recipients to join Year 7 of the prestigious Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI). Supported by a generous $75,000 grant aimed at enhancing the College’s Air Traffic Control and Professional Pilot students while on the path towards a rewarding career in the Aviation industry.
This program is available to Atlantic Cape students who are pursuing either the Associate in Applied Science Degree in Air Traffic Control or Associate in Science Professional Pilot Degree. Students enrolled in at least six credits for the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters may receive up to $500 scholarship, dedicated student support services and customized career development opportunities, as well as supplies and materials to help them succeed along this academic pathway.
“Atlantic Cape is thrilled to be chosen as a member of the Metallica Scholars Initiative, the workforce education program of the All Within My Hands Foundation,” said Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Josette Katz. “This Program will provide extra support to our Air Traffic and Professional Pilot students and we look forward to a lasting partnership with this impactful foundation.”
All Within My Hands (AWMH), the non-profit, philanthropic organization created by the members and management of Metallica, recently announced its Year 7 of its Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) with its largest grant to date, totaling approximately $3M. MSI now has a presence in 75 colleges across all 50 United States and the territory of Guam, and is expected to reach approximately 10,000 students.
“I could not be any prouder of our Metallica Scholars. We know that our country needs millions of skilled tradespeople, and it warms my heart to know that our Foundation’s efforts are making a positive impact and putting hard-working people on the path to careers in the trades. Whether it’s a school visit or a meet and greet before a show, there is no better feeling than meeting our Metallica Scholars in person and hearing their stories of grit and determination firsthand, along with their pride and commitment. It is truly inspiring. To think we started with a few schools and a couple hundred students, and we’re now in 75 schools nationwide, about to reach 10,000 students. It’s just incredible.”
Robert Trujillo, Metallica Band Member.
Launched in 2019 by All Within My Hands in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), MSI began with 10 colleges focused primarily on Manufacturing programs. The workforce initiative has since expanded to offer opportunities in diverse fields for students interested in gaining the skills and training necessary to establish meaningful careers that provide family-sustaining wages.
To evaluate the program's efficacy, the University of Southern California (USC) Sol Price School of Public Policy independently researched and quantified MSI’s impact on the skilled trades and the return on investment (ROI) earlier this year. The research extended into all Year 6 community colleges, covering more than 350 fields of study at these institutions, measuring the cost of completion and anticipated salaries post-graduation. The key observation is that the ROI – the ratio of a program’s cost to anticipated median wage – across all MSI-supported programs is a very high and cost-efficient 8.3X. This means that on average, MSI graduates can expect to earn 8.3X the upfront cost of their program during their first year in the workforce.
“2025 is a watershed moment for the Metallica Scholars Initiative,” stated Peter Delgrosso, Executive Director, All Within My Hands. “With the addition of 15 new schools this fall and USC’s independent research articulating the strength of our results, we are eager to tackle the quantifiable shortage of skilled labor our nation faces. If we extrapolate these ROI numbers over a career, it demonstrates how effective and profitable learning a trade can be for the individual, and how society as a whole also benefits from community college graduates. This insight will profoundly affect MSI going forward, impacting how people view careers in the trades, encouraging more corporate and individual sponsorship, and driving its advancement across the country. We're thrilled to incorporate these findings into this year’s planning and expansion.”
Year 7 also marks the renewal of AWMH’s partnership with the Lowe’s Foundation, which has provided $1 million in support as part of its five-year, $50 million commitment to prepare 50,000 people for skilled trades careers.
It takes a village to achieve these results, including the continued support from many long-time corporate partners of AWMH, notably workwear manufacturers Carhartt, Wolverine, and CNH, a global leader in agricultural and construction equipment. The aforementioned along with the extended Metallica Family of fans have staunchly supported AWMH from day one and worked tirelessly to advance its mission.
For a complete list of all 75 colleges currently supported by AWMH, visit allwithinmyhands.org/metallica-scholars.
Visit atlanticcape.edu/metallicascholars for more information on how to apply for Atlantic Cape’s Metallica Scholars Initiative.
About Atlantic Cape Community College
Atlantic Cape Community College is a Middle States accredited, 2022 Achieving the Dream Leader College and Hispanic Serving Institution proudly serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. As a comprehensive, two-year community college, Atlantic Cape offers 47 undergraduate degree programs, and 33 certificate and professional series programs at its Mays Landing, Atlantic City and Cape May campuses. Atlantic Cape is home to the renowned Academy of Culinary Arts, rated the top culinary school in New Jersey, and for more than 50 years, our highly-acclaimed Nursing program. Atlantic Cape also partners with more than 30 colleges and four-year universities to offer students the opportunity to seamlessly earn a bachelor’s degree upon graduation.
All Within My Hands (AWMH) is a non-profit, 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. 100% of donations go directly to local organizations that the Foundation supports. To date, All Within My Hands’ collective efforts have granted over $25M— providing $13.5M in grants to career and technical education programs, over $7.5M to combat food insecurity, and more than $5M to disaster relief efforts. To learn more about All Within My Hands, visit AllWithinMyHands.org and follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
About American Association of Community Colleges
As the voice of the nation’s community colleges, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) delivers educational and economic opportunity for more than 10 million diverse students in search of the American Dream. 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. 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. https://www.aacc.nche.edu/
