Billionaire Pledges to
Eliminate Student Loan Debt of
Morehouse College Graduates Robert F. Smith attended Morehouse College’s
2019 commencement ceremony to receive
an honorary doctorate from the school. Smith is the founder and CEO of
Vista Equity Partners and is worth an
estimated $5 billion, according to 'Forbes.' During his speech, Smith announced he would
provide a grant to the nearly 400 graduating students,
covering the entirety of their college debt. Robert F. Smith,
via ‘MSN’ The announcement was a surprise
to both Smith’s staff as well as the
Morehouse College faculty and students. A spokesperson for Morehouse said Smith’s
contribution is the biggest single gift
in the college’s history. The student debt will cost an estimated
$40 million on top of the $1.5 million gift
Smith previously pledged to the university.