Harper College joins nationally recognized Metallica Scholars Initiative as workforce education program expands to over 90 schools
When regional fire departments identified a critical need for accessible, updated training close to home, Harper College answered with a new Emergency Services Training Center.
Now, with support from Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands, Harper is answering another call: reducing financial barriers for students preparing to enter the fire service.
Harper has been selected to join Cohort 8 of the Metallica Scholars Initiative, a national workforce education program that supports community college students preparing for high-demand careers. Through a $75,000 grant, Harper will help Fire Science Technology students cover Basic Operations Firefighter Academy course fees and personal protective equipment rental costs.
Harper’s Fire Science Technology program prepares students for firefighting and public safety careers through hands-on training, stackable credentials and career preparation aligned with regional workforce needs. Students train at Harper’s new Emergency Services Training Center, a state-of-the-art facility that includes a four-story live burn tower and provides local access to the specialized training firefighters and first responders need.
The funding will support Harper’s “Answering the Call” initiative, which focuses on nonaffiliated, “civilian” fire science students. Unlike students already connected to a fire department, nonaffiliated students are pursuing firefighting careers independently and are typically responsible for their own training costs.
Harper’s new Metallica Scholars Initiative Scholarship will provide $2,500 per recipient, with the potential to assist as many as 29 students during the 2026-27 academic year.
“Harper College is proud to help prepare the next generation of first responders for careers that strengthen the safety and resilience of our communities,” said Dr. Avis Proctor, president of Harper College. “This grant from Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands, will reduce financial barriers for Fire Science students who are ready to serve and support them as they complete specialized training that moves them closer to a career in the fire service.”
Harper joins the Metallica Scholars Initiative during its largest year of investment and expansion to date. All Within My Hands, the nonprofit, philanthropic organization created by the members and management of Metallica, is committing more than $3.3 million in Year 8 of the initiative. Eighteen new U.S. schools will join 75 returning colleges this fall, bringing the program to 93 colleges nationwide. Later this year, the initiative will also 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 longtime partner, the American Association of Community Colleges. Launched in 2019 by All Within My Hands, the Metallica Scholars Initiative’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 health care, optical systems technology, automotive repair, maritime manufacturing, firefighting and EMT, pipe fitting and agricultural pathways.
Dr. DeRionne P. Pollard, president and CEO of 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 organization’s newest partner, ServiceTitan. These corporate partners complement AWMH’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 of 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.