Donor Anil Kochhar Erases NC State Graduates' Senior Year Debts in Commencement Surprise
During the commencement ceremony at North Carolina State University's Wilson College of Textiles, Anil Kochhar, son of a notable alumnus, announced a significant gift to the graduating class. Kochhar and his wife, Marilyn, pledged to pay off all final-year student loans for the graduates of the 2025-2026 academic year. This announcement was made in honor of Kochhar's late father, Prakash Chand Kochhar, who was one of the first Indian students at the university. The gesture was met with cheers and a standing ovation from the audience, as it promised to relieve financial burdens for 176 bachelor's degree recipients and 26 master's degree graduates. The Kochhar family has a history of supporting the university through scholarships and funding, but this debt payoff marks their most memorable contribution to date.