Baltimore County, Md. (Aug. 3, 2026) -- Community College of Baltimore County is proud to announce its selection for the eighth consecutive year as a participant in the prestigious Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI). Through this program, CCBC was awarded $15,000 to support the college’s Construction Academy Pre-Apprenticeship Program. The funding will help prepare aspiring students with hands-on training and job-readiness instruction for entry into registered apprenticeships in high-demand fields.
The grant will support at least 15 students as they develop OSHA safety knowledge, construction mathematics, blueprint reading, tool usage and other trade-specific skills. Completers will choose a specialty area from carpentry, electrical, HVAC or plumbing and prepare to apply for a registered apprenticeship.
“For eight consecutive years, the Metallica Scholars Initiative has helped CCBC create meaningful opportunities for students to enter careers that are essential to the growth of our region,” said CCBC President Sandra Kurtinitis. “This investment enables students to gain the technical skills and confidence needed to move into registered apprenticeships while helping employers meet critical workforce demands.”
All Within My Hands (AWMH), the non-profit, philanthropic organization created by the members and management of Metallica is awarding its largest grant: over $3.3M distributed among 18 new U.S. schools and 75 returning colleges in the fall for a total of 93 in the program. In addition, later this year, the Metallica Scholars 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 long-time partner, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). Launched in 2019 by All Within My Hands, MSI’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.
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 Foundation’s newest partner, ServiceTitan. These corporate partners complement the Foundation’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.
For a complete list of all 93 colleges currently supported by AWMH, visit allwithinmyhands.org/metallica-scholars.
Since 1957, CCBC has opened the doors to accessible, affordable, high-quality education empowering generations of area residents to transform their lives and the lives of others. Each year, over 50,000 students enroll at the college’s main campuses, extension centers and online to make their starts, earn degrees, launch and build careers. CCBC offers the region’s most expansive selection of degree, certificate and workplace certification programs that prepare students for transfer, job entry and career advancement in such industries as business, education, health care, information technology, cybersecurity, construction, and transportation. Designated as the “Best Community College” among the Maryland Daily Record’s 2025 Reader Rankings, CCBC is also nationally recognized as a leader in innovative learning strategies and among the nation’s top associate degree producers.
Director of Communications