Overview
- At the May 8 commencement in Raleigh’s Reynolds Coliseum, alumnus Anil Kochhar announced that he and his wife, Marilyn, will cover education loans taken for graduates’ senior year in 2025–26.
- The gift applies to 176 bachelor’s recipients and 26 master’s graduates, and it targets only loans from the final year rather than wiping all student debt.
- NC State says the plan was coordinated in advance with the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, and staff are identifying eligible accounts as they determine the total payout.
- Kochhar framed the gift as a tribute to his late father, Prakash Chand Kochhar, who came from Punjab to study textiles at NC State in 1946 and whose name already anchors several endowments at the college.
- Graduates and families reacted with cheers and tears as video of the moment spread widely, and students like Alyssa D’Costa said the relief will shape near‑term choices about jobs and further study.