Indian-American philanthropist Anil Kochhar, who was the speaker at the graduation ceremony of North Carolina State University's Wilson College of Textiles on May 8, surprised the 176 graduates by announcing that he and his wife would pay their education loans. This gift allows graduates to freely chase their dreams without worrying about financial burdens.
Surprise Announcement at Graduation
“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 as he made the announcement. The hall erupted in cheers.
“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.”
Family Legacy and Inspiration
“Eighty years ago, a young man traveled thousands of miles from India to Raleigh with little more than hope and determination. He could not have known where that journey would lead. He could not have imagined the life it would create, or that one day his son would stand here speaking to a graduating class at the very institution that welcomed him,” Anil Kochhar shared.
“My father could not have imagined this moment. Not just me standing here, but all of you sitting here,” Kochhar said. “A new generation, shaped by a different world, but connected by the same spirit of possibility that brought him here decades ago. And that’s what today represents.”
Who Was Prakash Chand Kochhar?
Prakash Chand Kochhar was born in Punjab, India and was the second Indian student to enroll at Wilson College in 1946. In 1950, he earned his bachelor's degree, followed by a master's degree in 1952, and then joined the textile industry. A year after his death in 1985, his wife Christine Hayes Kochhar, whom he met at the North Carolina college, created the Prakash Chand Kochhar Memorial Textile Scholarship for the university.
Continuing the Legacy
Anil Kochhar and his wife Marilyn have continued the family's philanthropic legacy by establishing three gifts for the university:
- The Prakash Chand Kochhar Dean’s Chair Endowment: Provides support for the dean and/or general resources for the college.
- The Prakash Chand Kochhar Endowed Faculty Fund: Provides awards for five-year terms and funding for activities such as recruitment, support for students working with faculty members, professional development, travel, and research.
- The Prakash Chand Kochhar Graduate Support Endowment: Provides graduate students in the Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science with support for activities like research, travel, and conference attendance.
This generous act not only relieves graduates of their financial burdens but also honors the journey of Anil Kochhar's father, creating a lasting impact on future generations.
