Wilson College Graduates Receive Gift of Student Loan Relief at Commencement
Similar Articles
Donor Covers Final Year of Student Loans for NC State Textile Graduates
Fordham University to Honor Media Executive Gerry Byrne and NPR Critic Maureen Corrigan
Eric Church Delivers Commencement Speech at UNC Chapel Hill, Donates $1 Million to Diabetes Research
Fordham Student Wins NPR College Podcast Challenge With Audio Letter to Grandfather
AI Commencement Comments Draw Student Pushback Amid Job Market Concerns
During the Wilson College of Textiles commencement ceremony at North Carolina State University (NC State), speaker Anil Kochhar announced he and his wife Marilyn will pay off all final-year student loans for graduates from the 2025–26 academic year. The gift honors Kochhar's late father, Prakash Chand Kochhar, who studied at NC State in the 1940s. The graduating class consisted of 176 bachelor's and 26 master's degree recipients.
Facts First
- Anil and Marilyn Kochhar will pay off final-year student loans for Wilson College graduates from the 2025–26 academic year
- The gift was announced at the May 8 commencement ceremony at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh
- The donation honors Anil Kochhar's father, Prakash Chand Kochhar, an NC State alumnus from India
- The Kochhar family has previously supported the Wilson College through scholarships and funding
- 176 bachelor's and 26 master's degrees were awarded at the ceremony
What Happened
On May 8, 2026, the Wilson College of Textiles at North Carolina State University (NC State) held its commencement ceremony. During his keynote speech, Anil Kochhar announced that he and his wife Marilyn will pay off all final-year student loans incurred by graduates of the Wilson College during the 2025–26 academic year. The donation is made in honor of Anil Kochhar's late father, Prakash Chand Kochhar, who traveled from Punjab, India, to Raleigh in 1946 on a scholarship to study textile manufacturing at NC State. Prakash Chand Kochhar earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from the university in the early 1950s and was believed to be the second Indian student to enroll there.
Why this Matters to You
If you are a graduate of the Wilson College of Textiles from the 2025–26 academic year, this gift directly relieves your financial burden from final-year education loans. For students and families considering higher education, this story highlights how alumni support can create tangible, positive outcomes. The Kochhar family's ongoing contributions to the college may also signal a continued source of scholarships and funding for future textile students.
What's Next
The loan payoff for eligible graduates is likely to proceed as announced. The Kochhar family's history of providing scholarships and academic funding suggests they may continue to support the Wilson College of Textiles. This act of generosity could inspire other alumni to consider similar forms of support for future graduating classes.