Gateway Technical College, based in Kenosha, Wisconsin, received a $100,000 grant from Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation as part of a $1 million initiative to help community colleges enhance their career and technical education programs.

Ten colleges from across the country received the grants to support more than 1,000 students who are expected to benefit from the initiative as Metallica Scholars.

Gateway operates nine campuses in Southeastern Wisconsin, and was the host for part of the PHCC Education Foundation’s Apprentice Contest when the trade association held its annual conference and trade show in Milwaukee in 2017.

In addition to Gateway, nine other community colleges received grants, including:

• Central Piedmont Community College, Charlotte, North Carolina
• Clackamas Community College, Oregon City, Oregon
• College of Lake County, Grayslake, Illinois
• Community College of Baltimore County, Baltimore,
• Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Lone Star College, The Woodlands, Texas
• North Idaho College, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
• Spokane Community College, Spokane, Washignton
• Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology, Wichita, Kansas.

Partnering with the American Association of Community Colleges, a Washington, D.C.-based organization that represents the nation's 1,103 community colleges, the Metallica Scholars awards were selected via a competitive application process and are designed to provide support of relevant job skill training for community college students, reinvest in communities that supported Metallica during its recent United States tours, and leverage the influence of Metallica to elevate the importance of career and technical education.

"The foundation and the band are thrilled by the quality of proposals we received from these colleges, and are excited to do our part to help educate students so that they have the skills and training necessary to find meaningful and well-paying jobs in their communities," said Dr. Edward Frank, executive director of the Metallica foundation.

In addressing why the foundation chose workforce education as part of its mission, Lars Ulrich, Metallica's drummer and co-founder, said: "All of us in the band feel fortunate that music has provided us the opportunity to be successful doing something we are passionate about. We want to share our success with others so that they can find a job where they can do the same."

A year ago, the band established the foundation as a means to invest in the people and places that have supported the band. Since then, the foundation has focused its efforts on creating sustainable communities by supporting workforce education, providing resources in the fight against hunger and other assistance with critical local services.