Ivy Tech Community College Fort Wayne and Warsaw is honored to be one of 18 community colleges nationwide joining the Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) this year. The college will be receiving a $75,000 grant to enhance the student experience across career and technical education programs.

“It’s a huge honor for our campus to be recognized as a Metallica Scholars College,” says Dr. Kim Barnett-Johnson, Chancellor of Ivy Tech Fort Wayne and Warsaw. “It’s a testament to the commitment and dedication we have to providing quality, affordable education to our students. This grant will help us to further grow our programs and ensure success for years to come.”

All Within My Hands (AWMH), a philanthropic organization created by members and management of the band Metallica, announced that 2024 is the largest expansion of MSI to date with a community college in every state and Guam receiving a grant. The organization partners with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) to select awards through a competitive application process. Ivy Tech Fort Wayne and Warsaw is the only campus in Indiana to receive the honor.

James Hetfield, Vocalist/Guitarist and Co-Founder of Metallica expressed his excitement for the initiative’s growth: “When we launched the Metallica Scholars Initiative, it really spoke to me. A collective goal of breaking the stigma of trade skills. Trade skills are vital to society, and what’s even more important is to support the many folks who are trying to create a career by learning and using these skills. I am so proud—we all are—to see how this program is changing lives by providing much-needed resources to empower students, and it’s great that we’re able to make our biggest grant yet to support these students and the future workforce. We are reaching even further for year six of the Metallica Scholars Initiative. This year, our program will be in 60 schools in all 50 states! All thanks to your support.”

AWMH launched MSI in 2019 and has invested more than $10.5 million since its inception. This year, the organization estimates it will have helped more than 8,000 students with a wide range of backgrounds and ages gain skills to assist in finding meaningful jobs and careers.

“I am happy to congratulate the newest Metallica Scholarship Initiative colleges. The sustained investment in workforce education by the All Within My Hands Foundation has benefitted thousands of community college students,” said Walter G. Bumphus, President and CEO of AACC. “This work helps to advance skills education and the nation’s workforce pipeline. We are honored to continue this partnership to provide critical resources that eliminate barriers for students to participate in skills education programs that lead to family-sustaining wage careers.”

Along with Ivy Tech Fort Wayne and Warsaw, 17 other colleges were added to Year Six of MSI:

*Pending AACC Membership

For a complete list of all 60 colleges currently supported by AWMH, visit allwithinmyhands.org/metallica-scholars. 

When we launched the Metallica Scholars Initiative, it really spoke to me. A collective goal of breaking the stigma of trade skills. Trade skills are vital to society, and what’s even more important is to support the many folks who are trying to create a career by learning and using these skills. I am so proud—we all are—to see how this program is changing lives by providing much-needed resources to empower students, and it’s great that we’re able to make our biggest grant yet to support these students and the future workforce. We are reaching even further for year six of the Metallica Scholars Initiative. This year, our program will be in 60 schools in all 50 states! All thanks to your support.

– James Hetfield | Vocalist/Guitarist and Co-Founder of Metallica

About Ivy Tech Community College

Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, long- and short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides a seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor's degree.