Photo courtesy of Nick Cannon/Instagram
Nick Cannon made life easier for seven HBCU students by promising to pay off their student loan debt.
Cannon surprised the students with debt relief during a segment on The Nick Cannon Show, featuring the recipients and their stories. Before the segment began, he stressed the importance of preserving historically Black colleges and universities. The Drumline star graduated from Howard University in May 2020.
“I am so proud to be a part of an incredible legacy of HBCU graduates. Historically Black Colleges and Universities have played a pivotal role in developing some of the brightest minds and influencers of our time. Still, the next generation of college students are concerned that the price of their education may be a little too high,” Cannon said.
The students described how they survived homelessness, financial issues and learning disabilities to excel in school. Unfortunately, like many others, the featured scholars incurred student loan debt. Their numbers ranged from $30,000 to $120,000 in loans.
Those bills are no more thanks to Cannon.
“I was so moved by all of your stories and obstacles you had to overcome that I gotta help out,” he told the students.
The Wild N’ Out host is partnering with the United Negro College Fund and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund to cover the students’ bills.
“Once you earn your college degree, we’re wiping out your personal student debt—every single penny,” he told them.
The group was overcome with emotion after receiving the news. The touching moment ended with a group hug. At the end of the show, Cannon explained why he wanted to help the students.
“They’re going to do so many great things for so many people to pass it on. That’s what this generation is about,” he told the audience. “We’re blessed, so we can be a blessing. We’re a vessel so we can pour into others.”
Well said.
The scholarship recipients include Jeydah Jenkin of Clark Atlanta University; Sharandica Midcalf of Winston-Salem State; Mckenzie Estep of St. Augustine’s University; D’Angelo Colter of Texas Southern University; Christian Kornegay of North Carolina A&T State University and Duy Tran and Marie Rattigan, both from Florida A&M University.