NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
RALEIGH, N.C., May 9, 2026: In an emotional commencement surprise that left many graduates stunned, Indian American philanthropist Anil Kochhar and his wife, Marilyn Kochhar, announced they will pay off all student loans taken out during the 2025–26 academic year by graduating seniors of North Carolina State University’s Wilson College of Textiles.
The announcement came during the college’s 2026 commencement ceremony on Friday, where about 176 graduates—many earning degrees in textile engineering, fashion design, and polymer and color chemistry—learned that a major portion, and in some cases all, of their recent student debt would be erased through the Kochhars’ gift.
“It is my privilege to announce today that, in honor of my father Prakash Chand Kochhar, Marilyn and I are providing a graduation gift to cover all the final-year education loans incurred by Wilson College graduates during the 2025–26 academic year,” Kochhar said.
“Marilyn and I hope that all of you leave Reynolds Coliseum today not only with a degree but with greater freedom to pursue your goals, take risks and build the lives you’ve worked so hard to achieve.”
For Kochhar, the gesture was deeply personal.
His father, Prakash Chand Kochhar, came to Raleigh from India nearly 80 years ago to study textile manufacturing at NC State, beginning a family legacy tied to the university and the American textile industry. During his commencement remarks, Kochhar reflected on that journey before revealing the surprise gift to graduates.
The Kochhar family has become one of the most significant philanthropic supporters of the Wilson College of Textiles. Earlier this year, Anil and Marilyn Kochhar made another major contribution to the college, helping establish academic endowments, including the Prakash Chand Kochhar Endowed Deanship, in honor of his father’s legacy.
Though NC State has identified Kochhar as being based on the West Coast, much of his recent public profile has centered on philanthropy, education, and continuing his family’s connection to the textile industry and higher education.
The commencement gift quickly drew praise on social media and among alumni, with many calling it one of the most memorable graduation moments in recent university history.
For many graduates, the announcement marked more than financial relief. It also symbolized the full-circle story of an immigrant family whose journey began in India and whose legacy is now helping a new generation begin their careers with less debt.
