Metallica Scholars

OCtech is excited to join the Metallica Scholars Initiative for a second year!

The college has received a generous $50,000 MSI grant for 2026-27 to help students in our Machine Tool Technology, Mechatronics Technology, and Associate Degree and Practical Nursing programs.

We will award $500 scholarships to 80 students, which will be paid directly to them to help alleviate transportation, childcare and other expenses that arise as part of their academic journey.

Now in its eighth year, MSI was launched in 2019 by All Within My Hands, the philanthropic organization created by the members and management of Metallica, in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges. What started as 10 colleges focused primarily on manufacturing programs has since expanded to offer opportunities in diverse fields for students interested in gaining the skills and training necessary to establish meaningful careers that provide family-sustaining wages.

OCtech was among 15 colleges invited to join Year 7 of the prestigious MSI program in 2025 and received $75,000 to support student retention and success. More than 100 OCtech Associate Degree and Practical Nursing students received scholarships last academic year.

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

If I could say one thing to the band, it would be thank you! I used the funds I received from Metallica Scholars for everything from textbooks to printer ink for notes and projects. I was able to purchase books that I would have normally gone without due to lack of extra funds.

The Metallica Scholarship helped relieve some of the financial stress that comes with nursing school. I used the funds to purchase books, a desk and a chair to create a comfortable study workspace. Having these resources allowed me to focus more on my education and less on financial concerns.

Receiving the Metallica Scholars scholarship was amazing! The fact that they give back and that I was selected for a scholarship made me feel very humbled. As a mom of two boys, it definitely helped take some of the stress off. Every little bit helps when you're balancing school, work and family.

I am thrilled and deeply appreciative. I am grateful for not just the financial assistance, but also for the fact that Metallica believes in us and wants to invest in our future.

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.

James Hetfield

Metallica