CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Queens University of Charlotte recently reached a milestone, breaking a 166-year-old record. 

The university has over 400 first-time, first-year students, marking the largest incoming class in the university’s history. 

Around 33% of those new students will be making history of their own by becoming the first in their families to get a bachelor's degree. 

Data shows first-generation students face unique challenges at colleges and universities, such as financial and economic barriers and having difficulty adjusting to college life.

But Queens University is ensuring first-generation students get the support they need to flourish academically so they can reach their career dreams. 

The university is home to the Thrive Institute, a summer bridge program (by invitation) for first-time, full-time students. 

The program is supporting historically marginalized student populations transitioning to college life. This includes first-generation students. 

The students are able to live on campus for a week, developing plans for academic success, while learning more about resources available to them at Queens.

Queens University student Matthew Brown credits Dr. Yvette Clifton, a first-generation graduate and staff member at Queens, for helping him thrive on the campus. Brown, a senior, will soon be the first in his family to get a bachelor's degree. (Spectrum News 1/Jennifer Roberts)

 One of the Thrive mentors is student Matthew Brown. 

"It's all about pouring into the next generation," Brown said. "I've seen how impactful it has been on other students."

Brown is a senior studying nursing at Queens University. 

He's just months away from being the first in his family to receive a bachelor's degree. 

"My parents are migrants," Brown said. "So navigating the college experience has been a little difficult seeing that I had to kind of take it on my own. The beautiful thing about my journey is I've had people along my way to guide and shape me. I've been able to pick up resources and tap into the strength of professors on this campus as well."

Brown says the university has helped him and other first-generation students thrive. 

"Even though I'm first-gen, I still have the opportunities as anyone else does. As a first-gen student, sometimes you feel left out and or feel like we are inferior to the greater population. But I feel like I'm a success story. I've been able to jump in opportunities and have these experiences I could never had imagined. I'm very thankful for the journey I'm on and where I'm headed. We are success stories and will continue to be success stories in life," Brown said.