NC State University Textile graduates relieved of senior year loans

(CBS, KYMA) - Hundreds of Textile graduates from NC State University's Wilson College received a massive surprise at their graduation Friday.

Graduation ceremony speaker Anil Kochhar, who is the son of an alumnus, announced he and his wife, Marilyn, will be covering "all the final year education loans incurred by the Wilson College graduates during the 2025-2026 academic year."

According to CBS affiliate WNCN, Kochhar's gesture is in honor of his father who came to NC State from India in the 1940s to continue his education in textiles.

"It is our intent to make Wilson College affordable for all," Kochhar said in his speech. "My wife and I hope as you leave, we have unshackled some of that so that you can go out with greater freedom to pursue your goals."