Renee Bombredi

As a single parent raising a family on an annual salary of $12,000, Renee Bombredi ’08 had desired shifting her career from teacher’s assistant to the head of the classroom. As a working mom, she neither had the time nor the money for a college education, and her dream of becoming an elementary teacher was slowly slipping away. That all changed one day in 2004 when Renee opened her mailbox and found a post card from Bay Path College’s One-Day-A-Week Saturday College. “When I first read it, I thought, ‘Three and a half years is a long time to go to school,’” she said. “Then I read it again, and thought ‘Wow, three and a half years really is NOT a long time. I can either remain dormant for the rest of my life or be productive. It’s time for me to move forward.’”

Within weeks, Renee was well on her way to a college education at Bay Path. She had accepted an appealing financial aid package, enrolled in the Saturday College, and received a newfound self-confidence. “When I stepped foot on the Central Massachusetts Campus, I knew my life was going to change for the better,” said Renee. “Throughout my college career, Bay Path and my family were supportive and gave me faith in myself that I could achieve my dreams.”

Following her graduation from Bay Path—three-and-a-half years after her first course, Renee landed her dream job as a second grade teacher in the Milford public schools. She outshined several hundred applicants to secure the coveted position. Furthermore, Renee has influenced her daughter to seek a college degree. “My teenage daughter saw the challenges I faced as a working woman attending college, and she has learned from my struggles,” said Renee. “She has plans to enroll in college as soon as she graduates high school.”

Renee credits Bay Path for transforming her life. “From the beginning, Bay Path was my family away from home and they wanted the same things that I wanted for myself. It’s because of the faculty’s high expectations of me that I have been able to succeed in my new life and make a difference in the lives of my students as well as my family,” she said.