Commencement speaker announces he's paying off debt of all 400 graduates

Robert F. Smith, left, laughs with David Thomas, center, and actress Angela Bassett at Morehouse College on Sunday, May 19, 2019, in Atlanta. Last Updated Sunday, May 19, 2019 4:16PM EDT

"On behalf of the eight generations of my family that have been in this country, we're gonna put a little fuel in your bus," the investor and philanthropist told graduates in his morning address. "This is my class, 2019. And my family is making a grant to eliminate their student loans." Smith said he expected the recipients to "pay it forward" and said he hoped that "every class has the same opportunity going forward."

His mother, Tina Mitchom, was also shocked. Eight family members, including Mitchom's 76-year-old grandmother, took turns over four years co-signing on the loans that got him across the finish line.

Michael Scott would be proud.

Great 👍

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