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NC State Commencement Speaker Announces He Will Pay Off Loans for Wilson College of Textiles Class of 2026
Anil Kochhar announced he and his wife would pay off senior-year student loans for the Wilson College of Textiles class of 2026, honoring his late father, an NC State alumnus from 1946. The gesture drew cheers and a standing ovation at the May 8 ceremony. Separately, a University of Central Florida speaker faced boos after calling artificial intelligence the next industrial revolution.
May 12, 1:24 PM·1m read2 sources
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Anil Kochhar announced during his keynote commencement address at North Carolina State University’s Wilson College of Textiles that he and his wife Marilyn would pay off any student loans taken out by the graduating class of 2026 during their senior year.
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The announcement prompted loud cheers, applause and a standing ovation from the audience at North Carolina State’s William Neal Reynolds Coliseum. Video of Anil Kochhar’s 8 May announcement quickly went viral.
The debt payoff was done as a gesture in honor of Anil Kochhar’s late father. Prakash Chand Kochhar enrolled at NC State in 1946. He earned a bachelor’s degree in textile manufacturing from NC State in 1950 and a master’s degree in textile manufacturing from NC State in 1952.
The commencement at which Anil Kochhar spoke saw 176 students receive bachelor’s degrees. Another 26 students received master’s degrees. 7tn.
Anil Kochhar co-founded a healthcare technology software company. David Hinks is the leader of the Wilson College of Textiles, whose deanship is named after Prakash Chand Kochhar. Anil Kochhar said his father would have been exhilarated to see a new generation shaped by a different world but connected by the same spirit of possibility.
Separately, a commencement speaker at the University of Central Florida told graduates that artificial intelligence is the next industrial revolution. Caulfield's statement prompted a loud wave of boos from University of Central Florida graduates. Caulfield said only a few years ago AI was not a factor in our lives, a statement that prompted a wave of cheers from the same audience.
