Hammad 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 Matin family were diamond sponsors of CSM’s recent Diamond Decade Mania, celebrating the college’s 60th anniversary.
LA PLATA, Md. – There is no mistaking how Charles County resident Hammad Matin feels about his late mother and College of Southern Maryland (CSM) alumna Shaheen A. Matin. “She embodied the American dream,” Matin recently shared. “And I miss her every day.”
Shaheen, who was the beloved caretaker of hundreds of children as they passed through the Little Angels Learning Center from 1985 through 2014, died in 2014 following a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. To honor their mother, Matin and his sister Seema and brother Sajjad recently presented the CSM Foundation with a $100,000 gift in her name.
The Shaheen A. Matin Class of 1990 Memorial Scholarship Endowment will support students who wish to follow in Shaheen’s footsteps by attending CSM to study early childhood and childcare programs. In coming months, CSM will also dedicate room 105 in the Community Education (CE) Building at the La Plata Campus to Shaheen, and name the CE Lab, “The Shaheen A. Matin Early Childhood Lab ‘90.”
Photo left: Hammad Matin and his family took the stage at the CSM Diamond Decade Mania 60th celebration to present CSM with the scholarship in their mother’s name.
Immigrant success story
Matin proudly describes his parents’ journey as “a true immigrant success story.” Born in Pakistan, Shaheen came to America at age 18 after marrying Hammad’s father, Shaikh. As Shaikh worked hard to accomplish his successful civilian career with the Naval Service Warfare Center in Dahlgren, Virginia, Shaheen nurtured a fledgling child care business, enrolling kids in the tiny basement of their Port Tobacco home.
“Mom loved these kids and the childcare business,” Matin shared. “Dad was her biggest cheerleader and encouraged her to do more, so she did.”
Shaheen earned her certificate at CSM to provide child care in 1985 and went on to earn her associate degree in childhood education in 1990 – all the while running her business and raising her family. Next, Shaikh and Shaheen bought a building in La Plata and Little Angels Learning Center quickly grew in square feet and sets of feet with Shaheen caring for up to 100 children a day, including those students moving through Charles County Public School System’s before-and after-care programs.
“She loved every moment of her job,” he continued. “She hardly ever took a vacation. She would be at work every day at 6 a.m. and would stay until closing. She knew every child and considered all of them her babies.
“We would laugh,” he continued, “when we would discover that she was caring for the children of, and sometimes the grandchildren of, some of her first kids.”
Further describing her as “naturally gifted” with children, Matin said babies and children were drawn to her, too. “It was her calling.”
Giving Back to the Community
“We are deeply touched by the Matin’s gift to CSM and our students,” said CSM Vice President of Advocacy and Community Engagement Michelle Goodwin. “Shaheen made so many contributions to our community, and positively influenced so many generations of children. She was indeed loved by all who knew her and we are grateful to help honor her memory and create this legacy.”
Matin said he is certain his mom would be happy about the scholarship and endowment. He said his mother helped several other people set up businesses, even other child care centers.
“If she could help someone else – young or old – to be in the field she loved – loving children like she did – she would,” Matin shared. “The scholarship and endowment will last in perpetuity to help residents live the American dream and love children, just like she did.”
“My siblings and I have been very blessed,” Matin continued, explaining that his parents’ success helped Seema achieve her career with the U.S. State Department as a diplomat in the Foreign Service. Sajjad is a federal prosecutor in Miami, Florida while Matin is the founder and principal defense attorney at the Law Office of Hammad S. Matin, P.A. in La Plata.
“We were able to obtain good educations and pursue our passions thanks to our parents’ fulfilling the American dream,” Matin added. “I was able to go to law school and return home to serve. I am glad to give all I can back to our community.”
Students applying for the Shaheen A. Matin Class of 1990 Memorial Scholarship must be a resident of Calvert, Charles or St. Mary’s counties; possess a high school diploma or equivalent, possess and maintain at least a 2.5 GPA and be enrolled in an early childhood or childcare program. Recipients will be eligible to receive up to $1,500 per semester for six consecutive semesters if they comply with the eligibility requirements and remain in good academic standing.