Salish Kootenai College (SKC) is thrilled to announce its selection as one of only 15 institutions nationwide to join Year 7 of the prestigious Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI). This incredible partnership, backed by a generous $75,000 grant from Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation, marks a significant milestone for our college and community. SKC will leverage these funds to enhance access to high-quality, skills-based training for adult and secondary learners, directly supporting in-demand, high-paying jobs in the transportation and construction sectors.
The grant will provide direct assistance to students in our vital Highway Construction and Building Trades programs, aligning perfectly with the economic development priorities of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. As SKC President Michael M. Munson emphasized, “it’s an investment in our students, our families, and our Tribal communities,” creating pathways to family-sustaining careers and elevating the image of skilled trades. Our existing programs, such as the comprehensive Highway Construction Training (HCT) program, which provides technical skills for heavy equipment operators and truck drivers, and the collaborative welding course, exemplify this commitment to workforce development.
The Metallica Scholars Initiative, launched in 2019 by All Within My Hands in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), has expanded significantly, now reaching 75 colleges across all 50 U.S. states and Guam, impacting an estimated 10,000 students. Metallica band member Robert Trujillo expressed immense pride in the scholars, highlighting the Foundation’s positive impact on putting “hard-working people on the path to careers in the trades”. This initiative’s proven return on investment, with graduates earning an average of 8.3 times their program’s upfront cost in their first year, underscores its transformative power.
At SKC, our mission is deeply rooted in providing quality education for American Indians and perpetuating the cultures of the Séliš, Ksanka, and Qlispe’ peoples, empowering students to improve their families and communities through service and research. This partnership with Metallica and its All Within My Hands Foundation embodies our core values, especially the 4Cs – Cultural Awareness, Communication, Critical Thinking, and Citizenship – by fostering engaged contributors who are ready to make a tangible difference in their communities. We are incredibly proud to join this movement, building resilient communities through education.