This year marks the 50th anniversary of the College of Southern Maryland (CSM), which today launched its foundation’s public appeal for funds in an effort dubbed, Campaign for the Next 50 Years: Envision the potential – Make a Difference. The campaign plans to raise $5 million to fund five initiatives for CSM and the community.
Each of the five initiatives has a separate fundraising goal. The first initiative – Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (ISTEM) – has a target goal of $1 million; approximately $695,000 has already been pledged. Once funded, ISTEM will establish a pipeline of science, engineering and technical students by creating outreach programs in middle and high schools
“We need to ensure a stable workforce in the areas of science and engineering. With the aging baby boomers looking at retirement, we potentially face a threat to national security if we don’t create a pipeline of skilled people into our industry,” said Robert Kavetsky of the Energetics Technology Center.
The second initiative is to create a Regional Center for Trades and Transportation. The initial fundraising goal is $1 million; a little more than $445,000 has been raised to date. Funds will be used to build a multi-skill lab for trade courses in electricity, plumbing, carpentry, welding and heating and air conditioning. The center is to be a primary source of skilled journeypersons for area businesses.
The third initiative will address the shortage of local nurses and health care providers by funding simulation labs on each CSM campus. The labs are to include patient simulators, electric beds, emergency room trauma carts, computerized documentation systems and medical lab technology (MLT) equipment. The fundraising goal is $1 million. Only $164,000 has been raised to date.
“The nursing program here at the college offers excellent academic, laboratory and clinical courses,” said Nina Roth, a second-year CSM nursing student and scholarship recipient. She indicated that the medical training offered at CSM is very demanding and expensive, and with the funding in place it will afford more students the opportunity to enter the field.
The fourth, the Education Excellence, initiative has established a fundraising goal of $500,000. Funds are to be used to expand distance learning and on-line programs in technology, quality assurance and lifelong learning. The Education Excellence initiative has only managed to raise $36,000 to date.
The final initiative is to endow a Student Scholarship Fund. Waldorf Jaycees, who have already pledged $300,000, are leading the fundraising effort for this initiative. According to Jaycee representative and spokesperson, Kevin Wedding, “Our goal is to work with motivated B-plus to A-minus students [who] work hard and play by the rules to provide them with opportunities for higher education.”
CSM, now the fifth largest community college system in Maryland, began at the La Plata High School 50 years ago. Today, more than 21,000 students matriculate annually on three campuses: La Plata, Leonardtown, and Prince Frederick. Considering that the CSM’s foundation has already raised $3,267,539 toward its $5 million goal, the next 50 years look to be successful to say the least.
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