The College of Southern Maryland hosted its Hawk Heroes Donor Appreciation Breakfast to honor the generous donors who make education accessible for hundreds of students across Southern Maryland.
The event provided an opportunity to show donors the direct impact of their support. CSM Foundation Chair Samantha Stratchko ’18 welcomed guests and acknowledged the life-changing role they play in student success.
“Because of you, students who question whether college was possible are now pursuing their dreams with confidence,” Stratchko said. “You are not only investing in education but in the future families and long-term success of our region.”
Last year, the CSM Foundation administered more than $1 million in scholarships for more than 800 students. Over the past 10 years, more than $12 million in scholarships have been awarded thanks to the philanthropic investment of Foundation donors.
CSM President Dr. Yolanda Wilson thanked the attendees, applauding their continued commitment to CSM, its students and its mission.
“Our mission is to work together, arm in arm with our Hawk Heroes to build a stronger, more connected Southern Maryland through education that’s accessible, affordable, transformative, and always rooted in the Southern Maryland region we call home,” Dr. Wilson said.
CSM has seen steady enrollment growth since 2023 and is now the sixth-largest community college in the state. According to the latest Lightcast report, CSM contributes $280 million in added income to the regional economy, with one out of every 47 jobs in Southern Maryland supported by CSM, either through its workforce, alumni or students. WalletHub ranks CSM among the top 40 best community colleges in the nation and sixth in Maryland.
“These many points of pride are a testament to the excellence in learning our students experience at CSM and how their work and achievements become a vital component for the growth of the Southern Maryland economy,” Dr. Wilson said.
Angelica Aguilar, a soon-to-be CSM graduate, shared her journey as a communications student. After first enrolling right out of high school in 2022, Aguilar struggled and stepped away. Following a serious car accident and a period of recovery and reflection, she re-enrolled.
“I returned determined to find my momentum, to step outside my comfort zone and to take advantage of every opportunity available to me,” Aguilar said. “That second chance proved to be transformative.”
Aguilar received several scholarships during her time at CSM, including the Peer-to-Peer Ambassadors Program Scholarship, Miller Leadership Academy Scholarship, Shore United Bank Scholarship, WesBanco Bank Scholarship, Charles County Commissioners Care Scholarship, and the Diane Kaufman Fredette Memorial Scholarship.
“Because of you, I didn’t just attend college, I belonged here,” Aguilar said. “I built momentum through involvement, relationships, and experiences that helped me grow in confidence and purpose. Thank you for believing in students like me, for opening doors that might have otherwise remained closed. Thank you for changing lives, mine included.”
Aguilar will transfer to Towson University in the fall to pursue a bachelor’s degree in communications.
Tim Poole ’98, chief security officer of Cellebrite Federal Solutions and a member of the board of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, is one CSM donor changing the lives of students. Poole established the Frank Poole Memorial Cybersecurity Annual and Endowed Scholarship in memory of his father. Since its establishment in 2021, the scholarship has supported 14 students.
“CSM was a foundational steppingstone,” Poole said. “This school, my professors, the staff, all get to claim a tiny piece of every bad guy, every conviction, every terrorist, every difference I tried to make along this journey. It continues to play a part in the things I do today as a corporate executive and board member.”
Poole encouraged continued support for CSM and its students.
“You never know which graduate will be the next cybersecurity expert that stops a national attack, the next nurse that saves a life, the next tradesman that designs, builds, or repairs the homes, offices, and buildings we use daily,” Poole said. “Your efforts, your donations, the power of your generosity will pay dividends for generations of students to come.”
More information about becoming a donor and supporting student success is available at csmd.edu/foundation.
