Heavy metal legend Metallica has donated $100K to Valencia College to help Central Floridians learn job skills like manning heavy construction equipment and welding.
Valencia was one of five colleges nationwide chosen to receive grants through the Metallica Scholars initiative that began in 2018 to support career and technical education.
The scholarship will help to fund scholarships for roughly 25 students of Orange County and Osceola County to provide them with short term training in the construction trade.
The Metallica Scholars Initiative is intended primarily for people who are unemployed, under-employed and working multiple jobs in order to make ends meet. Students will be trained in welding, mechatronics or how to operate heavy construction equipment, including bulldozers, front-end loaders, excavators and articulated trucks.
Graduates of the programs are expected to earn starting wages of $16 to $24 an hour in Central Florida. Polk State College in Winter Haven was also chosen this year.
Thank you to Metallica for making a Positive Difference in Osceola and Orange Counties!
