![](https://i0.wp.com/blog.utc.edu/news/files/2019/11/First-Generation-Student-Breakfast-19-6166-2.jpg?resize=880%2C578&ssl=1)
A breakfast today for first-generation college graduate UTC faculty and staff mentors and their UTC first-generation college student mentees is one of multiple activities leading up to the University’s celebration of National First-Generation Student Day on Friday. UTC Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs Yancy Freeman, also a first-generation college graduate, shared his story of persisting to completion of a doctorate and today serving in a professional role facilitating college education for generations to come. In photo: Loman Martin, Juan Aponte, Kaslah Gordon, Deadra McGee and Heidi Maradiaga. Martin is a mentor to Aponte, and McGee is a mentor to both Gordon and Maradiaga.