Graduates at North Carolina State University were left in shock and tears when their commencement speaker announced he was paying off their final-year student loans. Anil Kochhar took the stage on Friday during the Wilson College of Textiles ceremony, where over 170 students received bachelor's degrees and 26 earned master's degrees, as reported by Axios Raleigh.
A Generous Tribute
Kochhar, whose father Prakash Chand Kochhar earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from the college in the 1950s, revealed the surprise gift in honor of his late father. "It is my privilege to announce today that, in honor of my father, my wife Marilyn and I are providing a graduation gift to cover all the final-year education loans incurred by Wilson College graduates during the 2025–26 academic year," Kochhar said.
He continued: "Marilyn and I hope that all of you leave Reynolds Coliseum today not only with a degree but with greater freedom to pursue your goals, take risks and build the lives you've worked so hard to achieve."
Emotional Reaction
Video footage shared on Instagram captured the moment, showing students clapping, jumping, and embracing in disbelief. The generosity sparked an outpouring of gratitude on social media. One commenter wrote: "Instant tears!! As a parent of a kid in Wilson, to see them looking for their parents, it tore me up." A graduate added: "Absolutely incredible. We are so blessed by this donation and its impact!!!"
University's Commitment to Affordability
David Hinks, the inaugural Prakash Chand Kochhar Dean at Wilson College of Textiles, praised the donation. "I could not be more grateful to Anil and Marilyn for this extraordinary investment in our newest Wilson for Life alumni," he said in a statement. "As the preeminent institution for textiles education, research and innovation, we are deeply committed to ensuring the Wilson College enables students from all walks of life to transform their own lives while graduating with zero or low debt. One of our primary goals is to make the Wilson College affordable for all, and Anil and Marilyn are helping us achieve it."
Earlier Gifts
Two months prior, the university announced that the Kochhars had established three funds in honor of his father, including the Dean's Chair Endowment, the Endowed Faculty Fund, and the Graduate Support Endowment. These contributions further underscore the family's dedication to supporting textile education.
