NORFOLK, Nebraska – Northeast Community College is proud to announce its selection as one of 15 nationwide recipients to join Year 7 of the prestigious Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI). Supported by a generous $75,000 grant, the scholarships are aimed at enhancing Wind Energy and Electrical Construction and Electromechanical programs.
John Liewer, Northeast associate dean of Applied Science, said Nebraska has seen an increase in wind energy technology, and as a result an increased need for technicians and supervisors.
According to the Nebraska Department of Energy, Nebraska ranks 12th overall in wind energy facilities, with northeast Nebraska housing 1,031 of 1,165 utility scale wind turbines.
“While there is high growth and earning potential in this field, students have been hesitant to enter the wind energy workforce, primarily due to a lack of understanding and exposure. Once in the program, students are often hired before they can complete their AAS degree,” Liewer said.
Liewer, a former Wind Energy instructor, said Northeast began its wind energy program in 2009 and was the first college in Nebraska to offer such a program. It provides both a diploma and (AAS) associate of applied science degree, emphasizing practical, hands-on experience.
Northeast President Leah Barrett said thanks to the Metallica Scholars Initiative, it is hoped that 25 first-year students and 18 second-year students will receive scholarships in 2025-26. First-year students receive up to $500/semester scholarships and second-year students receive up to $750/semester scholarships.
“This gift will provide more students with opportunities to build skills needed in our state, specifically in northeast Nebraska. We are pleased that the Metallica Scholars Initiative will help more students work with our industry partners in providing skills sought after in the Wind Energy industry."
All Within My Hands (AWMH), the non-profit, philanthropic organization created by the members and management of Metallica, recently announced its Year 7 of its Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) with its largest grant to date, totaling approximately $3M. MSI now has a presence in 75 colleges across all 50 United States and the territory of Guam, and is expected to reach approximately 10,000 students.
“I could not be any prouder of our Metallica Scholars. We know that our country needs millions of skilled tradespeople, and it warms my heart to know that our Foundation’s efforts are making a positive impact and putting hard-working people on the path to careers in the trades. Whether it’s a school visit or a meet and greet before a show, there is no better feeling than meeting our Metallica Scholars in person and hearing their stories of grit and determination firsthand, along with their pride and commitment. It is truly inspiring. To think we started with a few schools and a couple hundred students, and we’re now in 75 schools nationwide, about to reach 10,000 students. It’s just incredible.”
-Robert Trujillo, Metallica Band Member
Launched in 2019 by All Within My Hands in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), MSI began with 10 colleges focused primarily on Manufacturing programs. The workforce initiative 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.
To evaluate the program's efficacy, the University of Southern California (USC) Sol Price School of Public Policy independently researched and quantified MSI’s impact on the skilled trades and the return on investment (ROI) earlier this year. The research extended into all Year 6 community colleges, covering more than 350 fields of study at these institutions, measuring the cost of completion and anticipated salaries post-graduation. The key observation is that the ROI – the ratio of a program’s cost to anticipated median wage – across all MSI-supported programs is a very high and cost-efficient 8.3X. This means that on average, MSI graduates can expect to earn 8.3X the upfront cost of their program during their first year in the workforce.
“2025 is a watershed moment for the Metallica Scholars Initiative,” stated Peter Delgrosso, Executive Director, All Within My Hands. “With the addition of 15 new schools this fall and USC’s independent research articulating the strength of our results, we are eager to tackle the quantifiable shortage of skilled labor our nation faces. If we extrapolate these ROI numbers over a career, it demonstrates how effective and profitable learning a trade can be for the individual, and how society as a whole also benefits from community college graduates. This insight will profoundly affect MSI going forward, impacting how people view careers in the trades, encouraging more corporate and individual sponsorship, and driving its advancement across the country. We're thrilled to incorporate these findings into this year’s planning and expansion.”
Year 7 also marks the renewal of AWMH’s partnership with the Lowe’s Foundation, which has provided $1 million in support as part of its five-year, $50 million commitment to prepare 50,000 people for skilled trades careers.
It takes a village to achieve these results, including the continued support from many long-time corporate partners of AWMH, notably workwear manufacturers Carhartt, Wolverine, and CNH, a global leader in agricultural and construction equipment. The aforementioned along with the extended Metallica Family of fans have staunchly supported AWMH from day one and worked tirelessly to advance its mission.
Newly Added Metallica Scholar Colleges:
- Allan Hancock College - Santa Maria, CA
- Atlantic Cape Community College - Mays Landing, NJ
- Chattahoochee Valley Community College - Phenix City, AL
- College of Southern Idaho - Twin Falls, ID
- Community College of Beaver County - Monaca, PA
- De Anza College - Cupertino, CA
- Eastern New Mexico University–Ruidoso - Ruidoso, NM
- Ivy Tech Community College Columbus - Columbus, IN
- Laramie County Community College - Cheyenne, WY
- Leeward Community College - Pearl City, HI
- Mott Community College - Flint, MI
- Northeast Community College - Norfolk, NE
- Northland Pioneer College - Holbrook, AZ
- Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College - Orangeburg, SC
- Salish Kootenai College - Pablo, MT
For a complete list of all 75 colleges currently supported by AWMH, visit allwithinmyhands.org/metallica-scholars.
Northeast Community College
Northeast Community College is a comprehensive community college that provides vocational/technical, liberal arts, college transfer, and continuing education. It is the only community college in Nebraska with one-and two-year vocational, liberal arts, and adult education programs all on one main campus. The college also has three extended campuses and two regional offices to serve the needs of off-campus students in the 20-county service area. Northeast is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission to award two-year Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of Applied Science, and Associate in Nursing degrees, one-year diplomas, and certificates.
About All Within My Hands
All Within My Hands (AWMH) is a non-profit, philanthropic organization conceived by the members and management of Metallica and dedicated to creating sustainable communities by supporting workforce education, the fight against hunger, and other critical local services. 100% of donations go directly to local organizations that the Foundation supports. To date, All Within My Hands’ collective efforts have granted over $25M— providing $13.5M in grants to career and technical education programs, over $7.5M to combat food insecurity, and more than $5M to disaster relief efforts. To learn more about All Within My Hands, visit AllWithinMyHands.org and follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
About American Association of Community Colleges
As the voice of the nation’s community colleges, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) delivers educational and economic opportunity for more than 10 million diverse students in search of the American Dream. Uniquely dedicated to access and success for all students, AACC’s member colleges provide an on-ramp to degree attainment, skilled careers, and family-supporting wages. Located in Washington, D.C., AACC advocates for these not-for-profit, public-serving institutions to ensure they have the resources and support they need to deliver on the mission of increasing economic mobility for all. https://www.aacc.nche.edu/
To read more about the partnership, click : https://northeast.edu/metallica.
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