Tony - Community College of Vermont
Our grant helped Community College of Vermont expand its IT certificate programs and encourage students to persist to completion. Meet Metallica Scholar Tony Greenwood.
Tony Greenwood never felt that college was for someone like him, that he wouldn't fit in or be smart enough. But when he decided it was time to change his life as a single father, he stepped into his local Community College of Vermont center, and new doors opened. Despite facing homelessness and personal setbacks, he persisted and discovered a passion for learning—especially in technology. A pivotal moment came during a spreadsheet class, which reignited his interest in IT.
“I enjoy working with tech—and not just that, I don’t get bored with it. I’m naturally curious, and IT gives me something endless to explore.”
Tony successfully earned the industry-recognized CompTIA ITF+ certification and plans to finish both programs by spring 2026 and transfer to Champlain College. From the skills he has learned already Tony has written over 2,000 lines of code to create his own personal AI assistant.
Receiving the IT and Cyber Careers Scholarship, funded by the Metallica Scholars Initiative, was life-changing for Tony. He used it to catch up on life expenses and invest in technology that has helped him build upon his skills.
“It made me feel seen—like someone out there believed in me, even when I sometimes didn’t believe in myself. It felt like Metallica reached out a hand and helped pull me up.”
