Anil Kochhar, a donor and keynote speaker for North Carolina State University’s commencement for the Wilson College of Textiles, tells graduating students that he and his wife, Marilyn, will pay off their final-year student loans. Multiple outlets report that the announcement takes place during the ceremony and leaves students surprised.
The coverage agrees that the pledge applies to loans students take out during their senior year. The Guardian adds that Kochhar hopes the initiative gives students “greater freedom to pursue goals,” while describing the message as more than a standard commencement speech.
New York Post and Daily Mail both describe the moment as students hearing the news live during commencement and state that Kochhar and his wife will cover the remaining senior-year debt for the relevant graduating class. The reports do not provide details on the loan amount, the application or verification process, or the timing of when payments are made, but they consistently present the pledge as a commitment announced from the commencement stage.
