MILWAUKEE — Marquette University kicked off classes Monday with a free back-to-school breakfast for students.

Hundreds of students were able to enjoy a free breakfast through a partnership with Sendik’s grocery store. Breakfast items were handed out by Marquette University president Michael Lovell and Marquette basketball coaches.

“We are excited to welcome all of our students back to campus, particularly the 900 new freshman and we would like to welcome them back with having breakfast for them,” said Lovell.

Students were thankful for the kind gesture and said it really helped them start their first day of classes.

“I just want to thank everyone so much for having this for us this morning and getting our first day of class started off right,” said Tess Schneblin, a sophomore at Marquette University.

“Thank you so much, we really appreciate it as students here and it is a great way to start our first day of school,” said Marquette University student Sophie Vavrik.

Head men’s basketball coach, Shaka Smart, also updated students on the team that made the second round of the NCAA, last year.

“They [the basketball team] have been here during the summer, but nobody was here," said Shaka Smart, head men’s basketball coach. "So, it is a whole different feel when you are taking five classes, have your classmates around you. For our team, it is a chance to come closer together. We start practice four weeks from today and we have big goals."

It was a simple, yet meaningful act of kindness to start off the year right for the incoming students.