20 March Metallica's All Within My Hands grant significantly impacts lives, futures of ICC students March 20, 2025 By Thomas, Donna S. General 0 A $50,000 grant from Metallica’s All Within My Hands foundation is significantly impacting the lives and futures of more than 50 Itawamba Community College career education and health sciences students. They were selected based on an application process, which included information about the difference that receiving the scholarship will make in continuing their educational journey, according to Dylan Baldwin, dean of Career Education, who wrote the grant proposal. “This significant opportunity is making the difference in enabling many of the recipients to continue enrollment in their programs,” Baldwin noted. “Sometimes we don’t realize the struggles that students have to overcome to earn their ICC degrees to ensure a better future not only for themselves, but also in many instances, their families.” Among the student stories are, “My husband and I are struggling with money because of doctor bills…I am a 40-year-old veteran, 80 percent disabled trying to do something different with my life, something that’s not as physically hard labor as I’m used to…I am a 4.0 honor roll student, have maintained a 4.0 GPA since being in college and have exhausted 80 percent of my Pell Grant…This scholarship will benefit me in multiple ways, including easing the financial burden on my parents. They make just enough for us to get by but too much for financial aid.” “With an hour drive to school every day, gas goes quick, and the prices aren’t cheap, so with the money from this scholarship, I could focus more on my studies and not have to work every day just to make sure I won’t break down on the way to school,” said Skylar Breland of Ripley, Respiratory Care Technology major. “This scholarship would be incredibly beneficial for me as it would help ease the financial burden of attending college, especially as my family is already managing the costs of my sister’s education at the same time,” said Maggie Caldwell of Pontotoc, who is majoring in Occupational Therapist Assistant Technology. “My dad didn’t have the opportunity to attend college, so I’m striving to set a new standard for our family by pursuing higher education. I am a dedicated and involved student, consistently working hard to maintain my academic standing while also participating in extracurricular activities.” Respiratory Care Technology major Krista Ihle of Fulton reinforces the importance of alleviating a college student’s financial burden, even though ICC’s tuition is among the lowest in the state. “This scholarship will provide much-needed financial relief, allowing me to focus more on my studies rather than worrying about tuition fees or living expenses. With the support of this scholarship, I can pursue my academic and professional goals without the added stress of financial hardship. Ultimately, this scholarship will empower me to succeed in my education and make a meaningful contribution to my community and beyond.” And the stories would fill pages and tug at the heartstrings like this one. “My mother is a single parent to my brother and me and has worked as a surgical technologist throughout my high school years,” said Isabella Hayes of Pontotoc. “Last December during my freshman year of college, she decided to return to nursing school, meaning she’s now working part-time on weekends. The financial burden of paying for my education has been challenging for her, and receiving this scholarship would significantly ease that burden. It would allow her to focus more on her studies and less on the stress of financing my education, which would help avoid student loans. I am genuinely grateful for the opportunity this scholarship would provide for me and my mother.” When the grant was announced just prior to the fall semester, ICC President Dr. Jay Allen said, “It is a tremendous honor for Itawamba Community College to be selected as one of the continuing recipients of the prestigious All Within My Hands grant, which will significantly impact our career education programs and the lives of those who will receive scholarships to pursue a pathway and their best start. It is another indication of the success of the College and reinforcement of the mission that students and their success are our top priority.” ICC’s grant is focusing on recruiting underserved populations to enable individuals to attain job skills and opportunities to equip them for employment to better position them for success and a better future. With the launch of year six, 18 new colleges have joined the roster of existing Metallica Scholars Initiative, which now has a presence in 60 colleges across all 50 United States and the territory of Guam. ICC, which is in year two, and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College represent Mississippi. Additional scholarship recipients include Sarah Coleman of Amory; Keaton Cager of Baldwyn; Katie May, Diana Reyes, both of Booneville; Claire Carter of Bruce; Kaitlyn Harris of Caledonia; Josie Nesom of Columbus; Luis Rojas of Derma; Kathryn Smith, Emily Speck, both of Ecru; Rodney Hardy of Gordo, Ala.; Pablo Arce of Holly Springs; Shavar Gladney of Houlka; Latisha Hamilton, Graciela Soto-Juarez, Graylon Pulliam, Allaunah Tumblin, all of Houston; Carolos Jones of Okolona; Liana Logan of Oxford; Joshua Campbell, Lauribeth Childers, Morgan Gunter, Tristen Hargrove, Marlee Hoing, Anna Jenkins, Christine McKnight, all of Pontotoc; Alantyon Swinney of Thaxton; Breanna Deckley of Tishomingo; Nicholas Hamner of Tremont; Saja Dawish, Amari Jamison, Timothy Russell, Justin Simmons, all of Tupelo; and Katrina Freely of Water Valley. Related Articles ICC, one of two in Mississippi, receives Metallica's All Within My Hands grant All Within My Hands, the nonprofit, philanthropic organization created by the members and management of Metallica, has announced the largest expansion of its Metallica Scholars Initiative and its largest grant to date. With the launch of year six, 18 new colleges join the roster of existing MSI community colleges. The Metallica Scholars Initiative now has a presence in 60 colleges across all 50 United States and the territory of Guam. Itawamba Community College, which is in year two, and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College represent Mississippi. ICC’s $50,000 grant will focus on recruiting underserved populations to enable individuals to attain job skills and opportunities to equip them for employment to better position them for success and a better future. “It is a tremendous honor for Itawamba Community College to be selected as one of the continuing recipients of the prestigious All Within My Hands grant, which will significantly impact our career education programs and the lives of those who will receive scholarships to pursue a pathway and their best start,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. “It is another indication of ... Apply NOW for free welding class made possible by Metallica's foundation, All Within My Hands A free class in welding, which begins at the Itawamba Community College Belden Center, Oct. 11, is possible due to a grant this summer from Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands. The class will meet for one eight-week term, and the curriculum includes introduction to welding I and introduction to STEM. During the second phase, which begins Jan. 8, the students will take shielded metal arc welding and two fully-online classes in entrepreneurship and principles of marketing. Among the schools, which applied for the grant, ICC was selected from a competitive pool of applicants to receive $100,000 to transform the futures of students in the community. For more information on enrolling in the Oct. 11 welding class, contact Dylan Baldwin, dean of career education, at 662.407.1414 or email dcbaldwin@iccms.edu. Itawamba Community College receives $100,000 and joins 41 other schools across the US as All Within My Hands' Metallica Scholars Initiative expands in year five Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands, continues its multimillion-dollar investment in critical workforce programs at community colleges nationwide. Among the schools, Itawamba Community College was selected from a competitive pool of applicants to receive $100,000 to transform the futures of students in the community. “It is a tremendous honor for Itawamba Community College to be selected as one of the recipients of the prestigious All Within My Hands grant, which will significantly impact our career education programs, providing funding for students to pursue a pathway and their best start,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. “It is another indication of the success of the College and reinforcement of the mission that students and their success are our top priority.” The Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) was launched in 2019 by Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands (AWMH), in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). The workforce initiative marks its fifth year with an ambitious expansion into new curricula. MSI now directly supports 42 community colleges across 33 states, and by the end of this year, it will have helped ... ICC's Nursing students have opportunity to benefit from Women's Foundation of Mississippi grant Students in Itawamba Community College’s Associate Degree Nursing and Practical Nursing programs will have an opportunity to benefit from a significant grant from the Women’s Foundation of Mississippi. The $40,000 Access to Opportunity – Training and Graduating a Healthcare Workforce for Mississippi grant will be divided between the ADN and PN programs based on relative program enrollments, said Rilla Jones, dean of Health Science Instruction. This year, 31 ADN and 19 PN students will receive funds. Students in their final year/semester of their nursing program will be informed of this grant during the beginning of the fall semester, Jones said. Those who would like to be considered for the grant will complete an application and sign a consent form for FAFSA data to be accessed. Selection will be based on lowest estimated financial contribution and income level and the most number of dependents. Students who are selected will be awarded $800. “This targeted, need-based funding will allow students near graduation to be able to pay for expenses, such as NCLEX review courses, licensing exams ... ICC's Precision Machining Technology students receive new toolboxes, courtesy of a generous Haas Foundation grant Students in Itawamba Community College’s Precision Machining Technology program have a new toolbox, courtesy of a generous grant by the Gene Haas Foundation. Among the items in the five-drawer steel tool roller cabinet are a micrometer set; caliper; steel rule; tape measure; adjustable wrench; hex key, drill bit and L-handle sets; hammer; sharpening stone and flat file. “We would like to thank the Gene Haas Foundation for their generous contribution and support of our program and for the difference the toolboxes will make not only in the success of our students but also when they graduate and enter the workforce,” said instructor Jerry Pettigrew. The students will be allowed to keep them as a gift from the Foundation. “In addition, we appreciate MSC Industrial Supply Co. for their assistance in putting together this starter toolbox for our students.” MSC is a leading North American distributor of a broad range of metalworking and maintenance, repair and operations products and services. Recipients include Caleb Johnson, Cole Nichols, Parker Rogers, all of Blue Springs; Tyrus ... Five ICC students selected as NASA Space Grant Scholarship recipients Five Itawamba Community College students have been selected as the recipients of $500 NASA Space Grant Scholarships. They include McKinley Paige Dean of Aberdeen; Jacob Clinton of Guntown; Haley Dean, Austin Sanders and Emma Cate Sparks, all of Saltillo. The NASA Space Grant scholarship program supports the advancement of academically-focused undergraduates seeking professional careers in the natural sciences, especially space physics and engineering, mathematics and science/mathematics education. Clinton is an aerospace engineering – aeronautics major at ICC, where he is a member of the Indian Delegation, Student Government Association representative for Lee County, Phi Theta Kappa officer, member of the Baptist Student Union Lead Team – Bible Study Leader, regular attendee at the Wesley Foundation and STEM student. He plans to transfer to Mississippi State University where he will be part of the co-op program to benefit from hands-on experience for his major as well as a resident adviser for MSU housing. He is the son of Rebecca Duffie and Ashley Clinton. Haley Dean is majoring in mechanical engineering at ICC, where she ... Comments are closed.