College of Southern Maryland (CSM) Foundation members, faculty and staff recently joined alumni and the Southern Maryland community to mark CSM’s 60th anniversary with a spirited “Diamond Decade Mania” bash. The festive fundraising event raised more than $300,000 for CSM student scholarships and student services.
Hundreds of party-goers were on hand for the Sept. 29 celebration to witness scholarship presentations, and enjoy a diamond necklace raffle, live music by BackFin Band, beverages from Quality Street Kitchen and Catering and a wide variety of food trucks. It was an evening made memorable by the many attendees who came in costumes representing their favorite decade.
“It was 60 years ago on Sept. 17, that CSM, the Charles County Junior College, opened its doors of higher education to everyone in Southern Maryland,” shared CSM President Dr. Maureen Murphy when she kicked off the evening’s festivities. “As the college’s fifth president in 60 years, every day I see the value that the College of Southern Maryland brings to our community.
“There is so much pride associated with this college and for good reason,” she continued. “CSM was named one of the top 150 community colleges in America by the Aspen Institute last year. We have celebrated 27,000 graduates. We serve more than 23,000 students each year and we have more than 1,300 employees working in three counties across four campuses.”
Touting the success of CSM’s Kids and Teen College, career and workforce training and the cultural and personal enrichment programs offered throughout the year in Southern Maryland, Murphy added, “as a newcomer to this college and region, all of you have made me feel welcome, as if I have spent my lifetime here. It is easy to fall in love with CSM and this community.”
Among the many highlights of the evening were congratulatory speeches made by House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, Maryland Del. Edith Patterson and Maryland Senator and 1965 CSM Alumnus Thomas “Mac’ Middleton. Also recognized were former Maryland State Senator and Charles County Commissioner Jim Simpson and former State Delegate, Charles County Commissioner and CSM Trustee Emeritus Danny Mayer.
During the event, Middleton presented a check to establish the Joseph Donovan Middleton, Class of 1967 Memorial Endowed Scholarship, to honor his late brother.
“Your generosity and investment in CSM, impacts many lives, many families and the prosperity of our region,” acknowledged CSM Foundation Board Chair Nancy Hempstead.
Hempstead took the stage to recognize 1975 Alumnus and Foundation Director Emeritus Jay Lilly, his wife Mary Lilly, and 1976 Alumnus Joel Lilly for their planned gifts toward scholarships at CSM. The college recently named the lobby, wing and conference room in the Community Education (CE) Building at the La Plata Campus in recognition of the Lilly family and their legacy gifts totaling $500,000. The various rooms were named in honor of them, and in memory of Jay and Joel’s parents Ethelmae and Reuben.
Current CSM Foundation Director Dr. Ila Shah and her husband Dr. Vinod K. Shah – like the Lilly family and Charles County Attorney Hammad Matin – were also ‘Diamond Sponsors’ of the milestone event. The Shahs presented Hempstead with a $100,000 gift to mark Vinod’s recent birthday – funds which will support scholarships for nursing and allied health programs.
Matin and his family gave the CSM Foundation $100,000 in memory of their mother Shaheen A. Matin, who graduated from CSM in 1990. Her memorial scholarship will support scholarships for early childhood and childcare programs.
The Diamond Decade Mania bash was one of several signature events held during 2018 to celebrate CSM’s 60th Anniversary, including special concerts, the Inauguration of CSM President Murphy, the CSM 60th Birthday Bash at the Blue Crab Stadium presented by CSM Alumni & Friends Connection and 60th birthday celebrations at all four campuses.
CSM’s story began when the Charles County Junior College was established as part of the continuing expansion of the community college in America. At its inception in 1958, the college was governed by the Charles County Board of Education, with the first classes conducted at La Plata High School in the evenings. The Friendly Hall Campus, which is now the La Plata Campus, was established in 1968. The college expanded its services to St. Mary’s County in 1978 and Calvert County in 1980.
Today, CSM is a regionally accredited community college that provides programs and services with a special focus on local workforce development to maintain and grow a healthy economy and community. CSM serves more than 23,000 credit and continuing education students at its campuses located in Hughesville, La Plata, Leonardtown and Prince Frederick, as well as a Higher Education Center shared with University of Maryland University College in Waldorf and a Center for Transportation Training in La Plata. For information about the college’s history, visit https://news.csmd.edu/60th/.
For information about CSM, call 301-934-7765 or visit www.csmd.edu.
Photos from the Diamond Decade Mania are at https://csmphoto.zenfolio.com/diamondmania.
Photos from CSM 60th Birthday Bash at the Blue Crab Stadium are at https://csmphoto.zenfolio.com/18alumnight
CSM thanks its many Diamond Decade Mania Sponsors who include:
Diamond Sponsors
Coldwell Banker Jay Lilly Real Estate
Dr.s Vinod and Ila Shah
The Law Office of Hammad S. Matin, P.A.
Ruby Sponsor
The Middleton Family and Friends
Emerald Sponsors
Community Bank of the Chesapeake
Maureen Murphy and Joe McArdle
Salome A. Howard Bar Association, Inc.
Scheibel Construction
Southern Maryland Newspapers
Amethyst Sponsors
CBIZ Benefits and Insurance Services, Inc.
Dixie Miller and Jim Ritter
Educational Systems Federal Credit Union
Joson Fine Jewelry and Home Boutique
Marianne Harms
MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital
Miles & Stockbridge P.C.
Old Line Bank
Southern Maryland Women’s League
Washington Gas, A WGL Company
Topaz Sponsors
African American Heritage Society of Charles County
Arthur J. Gallagher, Co.
Bailey’s Party Rentals
Birdie and Bob Shannon
CalvertHealth
CENTURY 21 New Millennium Southern Maryland Branches
Chuck and Kim Rosenfield
CMI General Contractors
Comcast
Crossroads of Hughesville Garden Club
Danny and Marge Mayer
Eileen Abel and Bill Luyster
Evie and Vince Hungerford
Grimm + Parker Architects
Mason Investment Advisory Services, Inc.
Michelle and Bix Goodwin
Nancy Hempstead, Occasions Boutique
Peerless Tech Solutions
Richard and Lee Siciliano
SMECO
The Cangelosi Family
Tim Murphy, C&F Mortgage Corporation
Toni Kruszka
Tony and Terri Jernigan
Tracy Harris and Lori Jennings-Harris
Walter and Jane Grove
Wills Group
Aquamarine Sponsors
Askey, Askey & Associates, CPA, LLC
Bashes By Brooke Brown LLC
BB&T Wealth
Bill Comey and Melony Joe Ellinger
ERUNT AQUILAE
George, Andrea, and Clara Watkins
Helen Heier
Here to Help Virtual Assistance, LLC
Jean Russ
Jeff Sutten and Dennis Burks, CENTURY 21 New Millennium
Jehnell and Jerome Linkins, Sr.
Judy and Mike Schroeder
Karen and Dale Hupp & Family
Karen Elder
Kim and Greg Yellman
Maredith Management, LLC
Sharon and James Buckler
Tommy Luginbill
University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center
UPS Freight
Vyalex Management Solutions
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The College of Southern Maryland Foundation promotes academic excellence, growth, progress, and the general welfare of the College of Southern Maryland by raising and managing funds, and providing support to strengthen and develop the college and its objectives. Learn more about the CSM Foundation at https://foundation.csmd.edu/