There was an incredible outpouring of goodwill and support on Sunday, May 15, 2022 when Otis College President Charles Hirschhorn announced the generous gift by honorary degree recipients Evan Spiegel, CEO and Co-Founder of Snap Inc., and Miranda Kerr, CEO and Founder of KORA Organics, who, through their Spiegel Family Fund, committed to helping the Class of 2022 repay their outstanding student debt.
The news of this gift resonated around the world, starting with the Los Angeles Times—which was on the scene during the commencement ceremony to capture the incredible moment—and traveled across the globe to local broadcast outlets in Kerr’s native Australia. In all, the news generated a potential media reach of over seven billion across mainstream, local, affiliate, and syndicated outlets globally.
To see how the historic gift was recounted and characterized, you can watch the video embedded above of the Today Show’s recap, as well as the videos below in which President Hirschhorn and Otis graduates were interviewed about their experiences on that day. Following the videos are just a handful of the many news stories that circulated about the event.
For information about 2022’s Commencement, and to watch videos of the ceremony and the speeches that were delivered, please visit this link.
VIDEOS:
VIDEO: Art students find out their debt is cleared at graduation on ABC News Los Angeles. Watch below:
VIDEO: ‘It was like winning the lottery’: 284 graduates jump for joy over gift from Snapchat founder on Telemundo. Watch below:
VIDEO: “Snapchat CEO surprises Otis College's newest graduates by paying off their student loans” on CNN Business. Watch here.
VIDEO: “Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, supermodel Miranda Kerr pay student loans for Otis College's graduating class” on CBS News Los Angeles. Watch here.
SELECT STORIES:
Los Angeles Times: Snapchat co-founder pays off college debt of new graduates at L.A. art and design school
NPR: Snap CEO Evan Spiegel and Miranda Kerr paid off art school graduates' student loans
NBC News: Evan Spiegel and Miranda Kerr pay off student loans for Otis College graduating class
People magazine: Snapchat Co-Founder Evan Spiegel and Wife Miranda Kerr Pay Debts of L.A. Art School Graduates
USA Today: Miranda Kerr, Evan Spiegel pay student loans for California college graduating class
Huffington Post: Hundreds Of California Graduates See Debt Disappear Thanks To Celebrity Donors
The Daily Mail: Snapchat co-founder Evan Spiegel and wife Miranda Kerr pay off student debt of LA art school grads
KPCC: Snap CEO Evan Spiegel and Miranda Kerr paid off art school graduates' student loans
Fox Business: Snap CEO Evan Spiegel pays off student debt for Los Angeles art school graduates
Entrepreneur magazine: ‘I’m Speechless’: Snapchat Co-Founder Makes Shocking Announcement at LA Art and Design School Graduation
Fortune magazine: Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel surprises Los Angeles graduates by paying off over $10 million in student loan debt
E! News: Miranda Kerr and Evan Spiegel Surprise College Graduates by Paying Off Student Loans