High School Scholar on Lightning-Fast Ride to Surgical Tech Career
Like most high school seniors, Frankie Collard is looking forward to graduation. But unlike many students, Frankie will be earning an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Surgical Technology from Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) six months after getting her high school diploma.
As a recipient of the Metallica Scholars Initiative Scholarship for SLCC Surgical Technology students, Frankie can get an early start on her career by focusing on her concurrent enrollment classes in surgical tech and less time worrying about finances.
Concurrent enrollment doesn’t qualify for federal financial aid, leaving many students, like Frankie, unsure about how they will pay tuition. “I was stressing about how I was going to pay for school,” said Frankie. “But when I found out I had been awarded the Metallica Scholarship, words can’t describe how excited I was. I couldn’t wait to tell my family!”
Given from the All Within My Hands Foundation, the Metallica Scholars Initiative Scholarship helps those in the early enrollment program, as well as students taking the traditional college path, cover tuition costs, school fees and tools required to complete a surgical technology degree.
Frankie first learned about the scholarship from her surgical technology instructor. “My teacher made a big announcement to the entire class about how SLCC had been awarded the Metallica Scholars Initiative and encouraged us all to apply for this amazing scholarship opportunity,” she said. “Of course, I applied - I couldn’t believe this was actually coming from the band, Metallica!”
Members and management of Metallica established the All Within My Hands Foundation in 2017 to invest in the people and places that have supported the band. The foundation is focused on supporting sustainable communities through workforce education, the fight against hunger and other critical local services. In Fall 2022, SLCC became part of the Metallica Scholars Initiative through its Surgical Technology program.
Frankie is one of 13 students in the early enrollment surgical technical program at SLCC. “We’re a small class but I consider everyone a friend who I look forward to seeing each day,” she said. “At SLCC, because classes are small, we get more attention and one-on-one time with faculty than what we may get from a large university.”
Surgical technology was introduced to Frankie by her sister, who received an AAS in Surgical Technology from SLCC in 2021 and currently working as a surgical technician. “I saw how much my sister enjoyed the field and that inspired me to enroll in the surgical technology class,” said Frankie. “I instantly knew this was the career for me. Taking concurrent enrollment classes along with my general high school classes has been demanding at times. But it keeps school interesting, and I still find time to participate in high school activities.”
After graduation, Frankie is interested in working in a hospital setting, possibly even in trauma cases. “I’m really excited about my future as a surgical technician,” she said. “And with the job shortage of surgical techs right now, I feel there is a lot of job opportunities for me that will allow me to help people.”
Nationally and within Salt Lake County, there is a significant need for surgical technologists. According to EMSI data, there are higher numbers of new job positions than there are qualified people to fill open positions. The demand for surgical technicians and the competitive average wage of $47,546 in Salt Lake County has encouraged many students, like Frankie, to pursue a career in surgical technology.
“Finding out that it was Metallica that was funding this scholarship was so cool!” said Frankie. “My parents and I both are fans and knowing that a band as famous as Metallica cares about me and my future is just amazing. I appreciate so much for all they have done.”