ENMU-Ruidoso Receives $75,000 AACC Metallica Scholars Grant for Wildland Fire Training
ENMU-Ruidoso 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 aimed at enhancing the non-credit wildland and structural fire academies and credit-bearing Fire Science degree pathway.
“The grant funds will be used to reduce cost barriers for students by covering tuition, PPE, and required supplies, which are often cost-prohibitive for rural and underserved populations. Funds will also support personalized academic coaching, tutoring, and study sessions that help students succeed in rigorous coursework. Additionally, students will benefit from structured test preparation for national certification exams such as NWCG and IFSAC, ensuring they are well-positioned for credential attainment. Career navigation services will include advising, resume and interview coaching, and facilitated connections to local, tribal, state, and federal fire service employers. This comprehensive support will enable more students not only to enter training programs, but also to persist through challenges, complete certifications, and transition successfully into the fire and emergency services workforce.” said ENMU-Ruidoso’s Director of Career and Technical Education Gray Mowery.
This initiative will directly serve:
- Volunteer firefighters seeking foundational certification and advancement
- Recent high school graduates pursuing public safety careers through degree and non-degree pathways
- Dual credit high school students seeking early entry into fire service pathways and industry-aligned credentials
- Rural residents and tribal community members who face geographic and economic barriers to training access
- Veterans and career changers entering fire service with transferable skills
- Current first responders and emergency personnel seeking upskilling, advanced certifications, or academic credit for prior learning to improve their professional mobility and leadership readiness
“The funds will directly support approximately 30 students through scholarships, enrollment in new short-term fire academies, and expanded student support services,” said Vice President of Student Learning and Success Coda Omness.
The $75,000 grant funds includes student access to high-quality instruction, personal protective equipment (PPE), and essential course materials. Students will receive individualized academic and career advising to help them navigate training pathways, apply prior certifications for college credit, and prepare for industry-recognized credentials. Additionally, support will include mentoring and exposure to fire service career opportunities at the local, state, and federal levels.
The increasing frequency and severity of wildfires across New Mexico and the western U.S. have placed overwhelming strain on local firefighting resources. Volunteer departments which make up nearly 70% of fire response capacity statewide are underfunded, understaffed, and lack consistent access to accredited training. This shortage is even more pronounced in rural and tribal communities where geography and budgetary constraints limit workforce development. In addition to the urgent need for volunteer firefighters, there is also a growing statewide and national demand for qualified federal and state fire personnel. Agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and New Mexico State Forestry are facing critical workforce shortages, impacting response times and fire mitigation efforts. Our proposal directly addresses this crisis by offering accessible, scalable training that strengthens both the volunteer pipeline and the broader state and federal emergency response infrastructure
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.
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/
About Eastern New Mexico University-Ruidoso Branch Community College
The ENMU-Ruidoso Branch Community College’s mission is to enhance the lives of students and the communities we serve, now and into the future. ENMU-Ruidoso serves the residents of Lincoln County, New Mexico with many high-demand certificate and degree programs such as accounting, business, criminal justice, culinary arts, cyber security, early childhood education, fire science, wind energy, EMT, pre-nursing, welding and workforce training such as commercial drivers license (CDL), forklift certificate training, CPR and many more. The College also offers community development education classes such as ceramics, painting, choir, metalworking, stained glass, positive psychology and more. Visit ruidoso.enmu.edu or call 575-315-1120 for more information.
