The Metallica Scholars Initiative Supports Students Pursuing Medical Careers at CCRI

Photo courtesy of All Within My Hands.

One of the hardest rocking bands of the ’80s and ’90s is putting its money where its guitar strings are. In 2017, rock band Metallica founded the All Within My Hands foundation to support communities grappling with hunger, disaster relief and workforce education. 

Students at the Community College of Rhode Island can apply for funds as part of the Metallica Scholars Initiative. The scholarship supports students in the medical assistant training and patient support specialist programs to help with additional expenses while attending classes.

“If you think of any place that you’re going to receive some sort of health care, you’re going to see these type of roles needed,” says Jennifer Johnson, associate vice president for institutional advancement at CCRI. “Nationally and in Rhode Island, those are going to increase by 10 to 15 percent by 2030.”

Richard Garcia was studying in the medical assistant program and working as a dietary technician at Roger Williams Medical Center when he received funds from the initiative. The scholarship allowed him to work fewer hours so he could focus on his studies. Now graduated and working as a medical assistant in Cranston, Garcia aspires to return to CCRI to study sonography and secure his associate degree.

“I help out the family with bills and groceries,” says the twenty-one-year-old Providence resident. “I can’t really put that pressure on my siblings or my father.

“It helped me so much to open my eyes on basically what career path I could pick,” he adds. allwithinmyhands.org