To Honor His Father, Generous Donor Anil Kochhar Gives Graduating Class a Head Start

May 19, 2026: The graduating class of North Carolina State University was gifted an incredible chance at a clean slate.

Anil Kochhar, cofounder and former vice chairman of healthcare technology company Outcomes Health Information Solutions, stepped on to the podium in front of the NCSU graduating class. With a tremor in his voice, he announced:

“It is my privilege to announce that today, in honor of my father, my wife, Marilyn, and I are providing a graduating gift to cover all the final-year educational loans incurred by the graduates during the 25/26 academic year.”

The audience of graduates, unsurprisingly, erupted in applause.

Anil’s father, Prakash Chand Kochhar, was a Punjabi immigrant with dreams of furthering his deep passion for textiles into a career. In 1946, newly arrived in Raleigh, NC, and with $600 to his name, he enrolled in NC State’s (then) School of Textiles. He earned both his bachelors and masters degrees, while working as a student employee.

The Kochhar patriarch went on to have an incredible career as a textile engineer, until his untimely passing in 1985. His final wish: “to provide for those invested in a meaningful future in textiles.” Thus NC State established The Prakash Chand Kochhar Memorial Textile Scholarship in 1986.

His son, Anil, continues the tradition of giving students a chance at fulfilling their dreams.

So many who have extended their education, particularly in the past decade or so, are often confronted with the prospect of starting their lives with a handicap. It’s so affirming to find people like the Kochhars who want to be a blessing to those in need.

Much of media would have us convinced that we’re all on our own. People like Prakash, Anil, and Marilyn Kochhar are a reminder that there are those who genuinely want the best for humanity.

---

Before you go…

Reset the Algorithm
Share one good story today.

For far too long, the internet has been fueled by outrage. We think it can run on something better. Join us, share a good story from The Bright Side, and help us reset the algorithm that determines what trends on the internet.