All posts tagged: Commencement

Graduates shocked after commencement speaker reveals their loans are paid off during speech

Graduates shocked after commencement speaker reveals their loans are paid off during speech

Published by Daniella Wilson

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more A group of North Carolina college graduates was stunned to learn that their commencement speaker was paying off their senior year student loans. Anil Kochhar took the stage Friday during the Wilson College of Textiles at North Carolina State University’s commencement, when more than 170 students earned their bachelor’s degrees, and 26 received their master’s, according to Axios Raleigh. Kochhar’s father, Prakash Chand Kochhar, received his bachelor’s and master’s from the college in the Fifties. “It is my privilege to announce today that, in honor of my father, my wife 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 …

Why Hillsdale? The Christian liberal arts school hosting Erika Kirk for commencement

Why Hillsdale? The Christian liberal arts school hosting Erika Kirk for commencement

Published by Sam Flores

(RNS) — Charlie Kirk often dismissed college as a waste.   The far-right activist and Turning Point USA co-founder never earned a college degree, a fact he proudly touted in his 2022 book “The College Scam.” But in a February 2025 talk, he described one exception. “There is no place like Hillsdale College,” Kirk said. “The students are different. They’re focused on the right things.” It wasn’t just Hillsdale’s curriculum. The Christian school’s political influence, he added, had made it a “cultural powerhouse.” “The philosophical basis of this new administration is largely an outgrowth from the hard work that Hillsdale has been doing over the last couple of decades,” said Kirk. Months later, longtime Hillsdale President Larry Arnn praised Kirk at his September 2025 memorial service, noting that Kirk, who was assassinated on Sept. 10, 2025, had completed over 30 online Hillsdale courses. Arnn awarded Kirk and his widow, Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk, with honorary degrees. Now, Erika Kirk will deliver Hillsdale’s commencement address on Saturday (May 9). “Hillsdale represents something rare in …

Hugh Jackman to Deliver Commencement Address at Ball State University

Hugh Jackman to Deliver Commencement Address at Ball State University

Published by Daniella Wilson

Hugh Jackman is heading back to Indiana. The veteran performer is set to deliver a commencement speech at Ball State University’s spring graduation ceremony, scheduled to take place in the Quad on May 2. The university-wide gathering will host approximately 2,800 doctoral, specialist, master’s and baccalaureate degrees students. Beyond the speech, the university will return the favor by presenting Jackman with an honorary arts degree. The showing will bring Jackman back to the Ball State campus after first visiting last September when he joined his partner Sutton Foster for a visit. Foster serves as an instructor in the university’s theatre department, and Jackman joined her during one of her teaching visits. The pair co-starred on Broadway in The Music Man before going public with their relationship last year. Jackman returned to Ball State, located in Muncie, Indiana, in November to host a screening of his film Song Sung Blue ahead of its Christmas release. The film, written and directed by Craig Brewer, who adapted from a 2008 documentary by Greg Kohs, casts Jackman and (Oscar …