WASHINGTON (Sept. 17, 2026) — Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) is proud to announce it has once again been asked to participate in the prestigious Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI). Since joining the program in 2021, NOVA has remained the only community college in Virginia to benefit from this unique partnership with Metallica’s All Within My Hands (AWMH) foundation to provide life-changing scholarships.
For the 2026–2027 academic year, NOVA is receiving a $15,000 grant from the All Within My Hands Foundation to reduce nursing student tuition outside what is covered by FastForward. The funding bridges vital financial gaps for high-demand healthcare students.
"Northern Virginia Community College is honored to continue this partnership for a sixth year," said Steve Partridge, NOVA Vice President of Strategy, Research and Workforce Innovation. "By removing financial barriers, we are strengthening the workforce pipeline for critical sectors like healthcare that power our regional economy."
The impact of this collaboration is demonstrated by the graduation this month of nine students from NOVA’s licensed practical nurse (LPN) program. Among the graduates is Isa De Delores Lopez Alvarado, a standout scholar recognized through the national "Wolverine Wednesday" promotion for her unmatched dedication. With her tuition supported by the grant, Isa plans to utilize her clinical training in an emergency room as she pursues her ultimate goal of becoming a registered nurse.
Nationally, the eighth year of the initiative represents its largest expansion to date, with over $3.3 million committed to 93 schools across the United States and a new international expansion into the United Kingdom.
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.”
Dr. DeRionne P. Pollard, President and CEO of the AACC, added, “The continued growth of the Metallica Scholars Initiative is a powerful testament to what’s possible when visionary philanthropy and community colleges come together around a shared mission ... ensuring even more students have access to life-changing opportunities in the skilled trades and beyond.”
For a complete list of all 93 colleges currently supported AWMH, visit allwithinmyhands.org/metallica-scholars
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Kathy Parkinson, NOVA PIO, KParkinson@nvcc.edu
All Within My Hands Foundation:
Renee Richardson, Director of Philanthropy | renee@allwithinmyhands.org
American Association of Community Colleges:
Dr. Martha M. Parham, Sr. Vice President, Public Relations | mparham@aacc.nche.edu
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About Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA)
Northern Virginia Community College is the largest public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth of Virginia and one of America’s largest community colleges. NOVA enrolls more than 76,000 students at its six campuses in Alexandria, Annandale, Loudoun, Manassas, Springfield and Woodbridge and through NOVA Online. For more information, call 703-323-3000 or visit NOVA’s website.
About All Within My Hands
Established in 2017, 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. Metallica covers all administrative costs, so 100% of donations go directly to the organizations supported by the Foundation. To date, All Within My Hands has provided grants of $19M to career and technical education programs through its Metallica Scholars Initiative, $8.8M to combat food insecurity, and $6.2M to disaster relief and other critical local services worldwide. Visit AllWithinMyHands.org to learn more. And follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
About the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC)
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. For more information, visit https://www.aacc.nche.edu/.