From Uncertainty to Purpose
What does Metallica and surgical technology have in common? For Dallin Dawson, they represent a life-changing opportunity to turn uncertainty into purpose.
Dallin spent his childhood in the small towns of Buffalo, Wyoming, and Vernal, Utah, where he enjoyed the outdoors riding horses and playing tennis and pickleball. After graduating high school in 2018, he enrolled in college but realized he wasn’t sure what he wanted to study. “I even tried attending a few different schools, but I still didn’t know,” he says.
Stepping away from school, Dallin worked with troubled youth at a boys’ school and later as a psychiatric technician. “That experience really opened my eyes,” he says. “I was drawn to health care. I wanted to do something meaningful.”
While researching health care careers, he discovered surgical technology programs and learned about Salt Lake Community College (SLCC). “What really drew me to Surg Tech was the ability to work in health care and have a guarantee that I’ll have a job in the field after graduation,” he says.
In 2025, Dallin was accepted into SLCC’s Surgical Technology program and awarded a scholarship from the University of Utah Health system, a partnership made possible by the Metallica Scholars Initiative. “Because of the partnership between SLCC, Metallica’s foundation All Within My Hands, and local industry leaders, I am able to attend school full time and gain experience at the University of Utah Hospital,” he says. “The Metallica Scholars Initiative is helping me financially go to school, pursue an in-demand field in healthcare, and gain hands-on experience.”
Dallin will earn an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Surgical Technology in Fall 2026 while working at University of Utah Health, a role made possible by an industry partnership with the Metallica Scholars Initiative. This collaboration supports tuition and provides paid, hands-on training, allowing students to focus on school while supporting themselves. In return, University of Utah Health gains skilled employees who commit to work for at least a year after graduation.
“After graduation, I’m looking forward to working in outpatient surgery, possibly plastic surgery or general surgery – I’ve also considered traveling contracts,” he says. “Long term, I plan to continue at the University of Utah to earn my bachelor’s degree.”
Dallin is grateful for the support that made his journey possible. “I want to thank Metallica for making this partnership possible and for supporting the Surg Tech labs that allow students like me practice and prepare for the operating room,” he says. “You’ve made it possible to focus on school without stressing about bills.”