BSC Metallica Scholars program is rocking free tuition and scholarships to train for high demand jobs in 2024 25

Bismarck State College (BSC) has been selected as one of 18 nationwide recipients to join the prestigious Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI), a major workforce education initiative launched in 2019 by All Within My Hands (AWMH) and the American Association of Community College (AACC) to support career and technical education programs at community colleges. This designation comes with a generous $75,000 grant to make education and training more accessible by lessening the financial burden for students enrolling in the BSC Welding or Mechanical Maintenance Technology programs.

Area employers are saying they have a real need for welders and an even greater need for individuals trained in mechanical maintenance. Therefore, this grant will fund scholarships for students enrolling in the BSC Welding program and cover full tuition for students enrolling in the BSC Mechanical Maintenance Technology program for the 2024-25 academic year.

"There is a great need for skilled workforce in welding and mechanical maintenance in our state. Both BSC programs offer short-term certificate options in these well-paying industries, and both have very high projected job growth rates in North Dakota," says BSC Dean of Current and Emerging Technologies Mari Volk. "BSC is fortunate to receive this funding which allows us to respond to the workforce needs of our state while providing financial assistance for our students."

According to data provided by the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration, projected job growth in North Dakota over the next 10 years is up 18 and 19 percent, respectively, in welding and mechanical maintenance, which translates to 1,450 new jobs in the state. Currently, graduates from these BSC programs are employed by North Dakota manufacturers as well as coal mines, oil refineries, fabrication companies and others.

"There is a high demand for these skills in multiple industries in our state, so much so that our students are often recruited in their first semester of classes and commit to an employer very early on in their program," says BSC Dean of Automation, Energy and Advanced Technologies Alicia Uhde. "Students who take advantage of this opportunity and enroll in Mechanical Maintenance Technology or Welding through the BSC Metallica Scholars program will graduate with little to no debt and have great employment opportunities in our state to put their skills to work immediately."

Founded in 2017, AWMH is a non-profit, philanthropic organization created by the members and management of the band Metallica. The Foundation is dedicated to creating sustainable communities by supporting workforce education, the fight against hunger, and other critical local services. It is from the partnership between AWMH and the AACC that the Metallica Scholars Initiative was developed for community colleges to enhance their career and technical education programs, which in BSC's case is the mechanical maintenance technology and welding programs.

Funding for the BSC Metallica Scholars program is limited and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and participants must apply and enroll by Aug. 23. Enrollment in the training programs can be either for college credit or non-credit.

For more information about enrolling in the BSC Mechanical Maintenance Technology or Welding program and taking advantage of the cost savings offered by the Metallica Scholars program at BSC, visit bismarckstate.edu/MetallicaScholars.