The money is intended to help “reduce the burden of educational debt,” said the dean of Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law
Credit: James Boyd/Indiana University Maurer School of Law
NEED TO KNOW
- Every 2026 graduate of Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law received a surprise gift of $10,000 each
- The money came from anonymous donors who said they hope the students will “pay it forward” in their future endeavors
- The money is intended to help provide the grads with relief from the burden of education-related debt
Upcoming graduates at a law school in Indiana just received a life-changing surprise: a gift of $10,000 for each and every one of them.
Anonymous donors gifted $1.6 million to be distributed among all 154 members of Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law class of 2026, according to a March 31 announcement from the school.
“This gift was made possible by donors deeply committed to our students’ success and to advancing the mission of the IU Maurer School of Law,” Dean Christiana Ochoa said in the announcement. “Their support is intended to give our 2026 graduates an early advantage by helping reduce the burden of educational debt.”
Credit: James Boyd/Indiana University Maurer School of Law
While the donors wish to remain anonymous, they said that they hope the gesture will inspire the grads to “pay it forward” in their future endeavors.
“We consider it a great privilege to give and to support others,” they said.
While speaking to Indiana Public Media, student Alexis Harbour said she’s “very, very thankful” to the donors for their gift. She said the money will help her tremendously as she navigates expenses after graduation.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“I don't know who the donors are but they will always have a place in my heart,” Harbour said. “This is major, but it speaks to how generous and amazing the Maurer community is.”
She added that the cost of higher education is increasingly becoming unaffordable for many Americans.
“Money shouldn't be a barrier, but it is,” she added. “There are a lot of voices that are not heard because they can’t make that sacrifice to pay for school.”
Credit: getty
The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!
Another student, Gerry Regep, told the outlet, “That kind of surprise doesn't happen in a vacuum. It reflects something real about the culture at Maurer: a genuine sense of care, a belief that what you do for others creates ripples you may never see.”
Read the full article here
