The 2024 Pathfinder Award: Kimberly Rockwood '24

A life of compassion, empathy, and true grit.

Charlene H.D. Mazer, class of 1967, Trustee Emerita, former Chair of our Board of Trustees, and the first alumna selected to hold that position, presented the Pathfinder Award.

The Pathfinder Award is presented to a graduate from The American Women’s College who achieves academic excellence while balancing her family life, career, and community service responsibilities.  As a student, she must maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.  She is one who perseveres, lives her life with compassion, integrity, and leadership -- and follows her dreams by setting her own path to achieve her goals. 

Our 2024 Pathfinder Award recipient is Kimberly Rockwood '24. 

The following is her citation read during Commencement…

“There is a quote that I would like to share with you that speaks to the essence of Kimberly’s character: ‘It’s your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself that determines how your life story will develop.’

The chapter of Kimberly’s life I will start with is an event which for most of us – is both unimaginable and heartbreaking.   At the young age of 41, Kimberly’s husband passed away suddenly.  It was a totally devasting event that Kimberly needed to endure and then pick up the pieces of her life and move on after a truly life-changing loss.

Then, less than 10 years later, Kimberly was faced with another turning point in her life. When she received a phone call from her daughter telling her that she and her three young sons were on the brink of homelessness and, no surprise, Kimberly stepped up -again!!

That same night, Kimberly would be driving back to her home in Webster, Massachusetts, with three little boys sleeping in the back seat of her car and what she thought would be temporary situation would, in time, become a permanent one. 

So now, Kimberly had to become the grandmother, the mother, and the best friend to these three little boys – who, by the way, all had special needs.  And her future had changed yet again in ways that she never would have thought possible.

But rather than being overwhelmed by this new set of circumstances, Kimberly – once again - rose to the challenge. 

She traded in her sporty SUV for a minivan, and in her owns words said: “I have dedicated my life to becoming the best version of myself that I could possibly become, because I am now raising these three little boys.”

Today, Kimberly’s days are filled with meetings about special needs for children, IEP meetings, appointments at Boston Children’s Hospital, PTO meetings, cub scouts, little league games, school band concerts, guitar lessons, birthday parties, AND did I mention she also “founded” the Grand Parents Raising Grandchildren Support Group – in her spare time.

She also volunteers at the United Way of South Central Massachusetts and the “After School and Out of School Time” grant committee at her boys school. 

Oh, and did I also mention that she works an average of 52 hours a week as a CNA and Care Coordinator at a Nursing and Rehabilitation Center?  And she has her own successful business - providing independent at home caregiving services to the elderly which she started during COVID.   

BUT – Kimberly’s not done yet, folks!!!

In the midst of her incredibly busy and hectic world, Kimberly’s life story wasn’t yet complete, so she decided to enroll in The American Women’s College at Bay Path University.  Again, in her own words, “I love school almost as much as I love my family.”  AND TODAY, Kimberly will be earning her bachelor’s degree in health services administration - with magna cum laude honors!!!

Kimberly, your path has not been easy, but you have followed it with empathy, compassion and “true grit.”  You truly have taken life’s adversity and shaped your life story to be one of success and accomplishment - all the while “Giving Back” to everyone you meet!!

Ladies and gentleman, please join me in recognizing and honoring our 2024 Bay Path “Pathfinder” Award recipient:  Miss Kimberly Rockwood!”

John Davis established this award in honor of his wife Robyn Davis, Bay Path University Trustee Emerita and Chair of the Board of Trustees from 2007 to 2010. The gift award for this year’s recipient is a beautifully inscribed glass globe by Josh Simpson, a nationally-known local artist who is also a recipient of a Bay Path honorary degree.