Renee Turner didn't just go to college; she helped break a cycle. Growing up in Brownsville, Pennsylvania, she watched her older sister navigate the complex world of college applications alone.

"It was really inspiring to me because she kind of clawed her way out of the cycle that was happening in my family," Renee recalled.

That determination to achieve what her parents dreamed of but couldn't access fueled Renee’s own ambition.

Her entry into university life was anything but typical. Graduating high school in the Class of 2020, Renee’s first day of college wasn't a walk across the quad, but a login screen.

"My first day was, 'How does D2L work?'" she laughed.

Despite starting her journey online and not stepping foot on campus until her sophomore year, Renee remained undeterred.

With the guidance of the Upward Bound Program, Renee and her mother navigated the intimidating paperwork and applications. This support system turned a confusing process into an achievable reality.

"They took me and my mom and explained it to me. It made it much more comfortable," she said.

Renee went on to earn both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Education from PennWest. Her success has had a ripple effect on her family, proving to her younger cousins and niece that higher education is "entirely possible and it's worth it."

Today, Renee is a passionate advocate for defining what it means to be a first-generation student. She realizes that many students don't even know the term applies to them. Her story serves as a beacon, signaling to others that they belong here, and that the "Power of PennWest" is available to anyone willing to take that first step.