Anonymous donor clears the entire student debt of a Texas college 2022 class

By Alma Fabiani

Published May 11, 2022 at 02:06 PM

Reading time: 1 minute

31121

Students graduating from Wiley College in Marshall, Texas—a historically black college—were told at their commencement ceremony that an anonymous donor had fully paid their debts. The school announced in a news release that over 100 students were gathered on Saturday 7 May 2022, when Wiley’s President and CEO, Dr Herman J. Felton Jr delivered them the good news.

The total of the balances owed to the college for the graduating class of 2022 is estimated at around $300,000 (£242,805). “We are constantly communicating with donors to assist students in these ways so that they can begin their after-college experience with less debt,” Felton Jr declared as part of the statement released by the school following the event.

The President added that the college’s commitment to its students “goes beyond their time while they are enrolled” and that he’s thankful for the anonymous donor because the donation will help Wiley “achieve institutional goals of graduating our students with little to no debt.” Duh, Felton Jr.

Though the mysterious donor’s name remains unknown, the college was quick to share the incredible act of kindness online, writing on Twitter: “Congratulations 2022 Graduates, YOU ARE DEBT FREE! Go Forth Inspired, glorious deeds to do.” The tweet also included a video where graduates, along with their family and friends, are seen celebrating the news.

In its statement, the college also revealed its commitment to increasing access to higher education—disclosing that it had reduced its tuition in the past few years to $17,500 (which includes tuition, fees, and room and board).

Reporting on the subject, NBC News highlighted that the 2007 movie The Great Debaters, starring Denzel Washington, was inspired by the 1935 debate in which Wiley prevailed over the University of Southern California’s infamous team at a time when the nation was heavily segregated.

Now, onto the real question, who was the mysterious donor? We’re thinking Nicki Minaj may or may not have something to do with it.

Keep On Reading

By Abby Amoakuh

Why are people claiming that Mark Zuckerberg killed JonBenét Ramsey and Jeffrey Epstein?

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Why do Gen Zers think KFC is using human meat? Unpacking the controversy behind the chain’s latest ad

By Abby Amoakuh

The White Lotus star Sam Nivola speaks out about gay incest scene amid calls for boycott

By Charlie Sawyer

Pope picking 101: What actually happens during Conclave

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Kim Kardashian’s Paris $10 million heist: grandpa robbers tell all as trial begins

By Charlie Sawyer

What is Mar-a-Lago face? Unpacking the beauty trend prompted by Donald Trump’s second term

By Charlie Sawyer

We asked men on the street: Would you rather share your emotions with a tree or a woman? Their answers said a lot

By Charlie Sawyer

Who is Tash Peterson, the controversial vegan activist who just lost a $200,000 defamation case?

By Charlie Sawyer

UK government’s new murder prediction tool draws comparison to Tom Cruise film, Minority Report

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Asteroid 2024 YR4 might be heading to Earth, and Gen Z have a lot to say about it

By Abby Amoakuh

Is Telegram the biggest threat to women’s safety? Chats for rape advice and sharing nudes suggest so

By Abby Amoakuh

Selena Gomez cried on camera about ICE raids and mass deportation but did we need to see it?

By Abby Amoakuh

From dinner parties to grocery flexing: Inside Gen Z’s new language of luxury

By Charlie Sawyer

Why are today’s McDonald’s restaurants so dull and grey? Here’s what conspiracy theorists believe

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Conspiracy theorists are convinced Blue Origin’s all-female space flight was fake

By Abby Amoakuh

ICE hit with backlash for lying to elementary school staff in bid to detain young students

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

What is the mermaid eating parties conspiracy theory, and why are TikTokers now obsessed with it?

By Abby Amoakuh

Single White Female remake starring Jenna Ortega and Taylor Russell hit with racist backlash

By Abby Amoakuh

German AfD party under fire for handing out Nazi-inspired fake deportation tickets to migrants 

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Did Chappell Roan push her assistant on the red carpet? We analyse the footage