Michael Besche Leads Efforts to Raise $5 Million for CSM
As the College of Southern Maryland embarks on its first-ever major gifts campaign, the CSM Foundation has named Michael A. Besche as the chair for its $5-million Campaign for the Next 50 Years.
As the president of Besche Oil Company, I see the results of what the College of Southern Maryland has to offer. I see it in my employees, in my neighbors, and in how the college impacts the entire community of Southern Maryland, said Besche, who is a past president of the Charles County Chamber of Commerce, a long-time member of the CSM Foundation, and a director for a variety of local Maryland businesses and technology firms in the region.
Besche has been actively involved with CSM since the mid-1980s, providing the college with support in the development of programs and services, including the Health and Wellness Centers, the Center for Business and Technology and the St. Charles Childrens Learning Center at the La Plata Campus.
He served on the colleges Board of Trustees from 1985-2000, as chair, 1994-96, and vice chair, 1993-94. He was chair of the CSM Foundation from 2005-07. Besche throughout his career with the college has worked on developing partnerships with community, business and local leaders.
The demands of our society require us all to be in a constant state of continuing our education. By developing partnerships and improving the quality of our workforce through education, we will be able to ensure the continued growth and prosperity of those living in the region, he said.
CSM has a long history of providing quality education and training to thousands of residents in Southern Maryland, he said in announcing the campaign. Five very critical initiatives need the communitys support. This campaign to raise $5-million will help CSM address community and workforce needs and issues such as addressing the nursing and healthcare workforce shortage; establishing an Institute for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math; enhancing a regional center for the trades and transportation; supporting student scholarship and funding new instructional technologies.
For information on the campaign, call 301-934-7649 or visit www.csmd.edu/foundation.