Rockland Community College Chosen For Metallica Foundation Grant

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — Rockland Community College was selected from a competitive field
of community colleges across the country to receive $100,000 from the charitable foundation established by the members and management of Metallica in 2017 as a means to invest in the people and places that have supported the band.

All Within My Hands funds a national program called the Scholars Initiative Grant to support students entering or furthering their careers in advanced manufacturing. Started in 2019, AWMH has been working with the American Association of Community Colleges to provide direct support for career and technical education programs across the US.

The Metallica Scholars Initiative has generated a proven and measurable impact at its first 22 schools. SEE: Metallica's Charitable Foundation Renews WCC Scholars Initiative

On average, students who complete the program see new job opportunities and increased salary potential up to three times higher than pre-program.

Now AWMH is expanding the program further by adding 10 more schools to the roster, investing $1.8 million to expand in year four.

“Our goal for the Metallica Scholars Initiative is to shine a light on workforce education and support the next generation of tradespeople. With the addition of the 2022-2023 Metallica Scholars program, our grants will reach over 2,000 men and women in 32 community colleges across 27 states," said Pete Delgrosso, Executive Director, All Within My Hands.

One of those is RCC.

"We are honored to participate in this important initiative and offer this opportunity to individuals in our community who need support and access to training, technology and resources to change their lives for the better," said Dr. Susan Deer, Officer in Charge, Rockland Community College.

The grant program will be housed under the auspices of Project Hope, the RCC Higher Opportunity Program for Education designed to support previously incarcerated citizens enrolling in RCC’s Commercial Driver’s License Program. The intent is to decrease regional recidivism rates.

Due to the lack of employability, recidivism rates for people arrested for either a felony or misdemeanor have increased dramatically over the past five years, officials said. This project aims to lower recidivism rates by increasing their chances of finding and holding steady jobs.

The grant will allow RCC expand the reach of the successful Commercial Driver’s License program launched earlier this year and could have a significant impact on students' lives, Deer said.