and it's particularly important for morehouse college, because 95% of students leave with some form oftion. we saw some of the students' reaction, they seem thrilled and disbelieving at the same time. what have student said to you since this announcement was made? exactly that. they are thrilled and they've asked me if they heard correct leave. and i've also had students talk about the ways in which this helps them make choices that they might otherwise not have made —— heard correctly, for example, many students want to go into education and some have chosen to take jobs that are much more lucrative than education and now they are rethinking that. others we re now they are rethinking that. others were thinking about delaying going to graduate school because they knew they would have to take on more couege they would have to take on more college loans are now they are speeding up their path to go follow their passions. doctor david thomas, president of morehouse college there talking about the decision that billy now robert smith does make a billionaire, —— billionaire robert smith mad

billionaire giving the commencement speech at morehouse college offering to pay off all of their student loans.s. details coming up. those are our top stories, live from paris. genie: we will start first in ukraine with the man who once played a president on television . he has now become one in real life. standup comedian volodymyr zelenskiy inaugurated this morning after winning a landslide victory against incumbent president petro poroshenko. he is the youngest ever post-s-soviet president. he has announceded he is dissolving parliament to hold early elections. as the leader of a country dependent on international aid, zelenskiy will also have to deal problems and tense relations with r russia.a. our international affairs analyst joins us to talk more about the situation in ukraine. let's start with the decision to dissolve parliament. what is behind that? the difficulty is there is no base for him i in parliament at the moment. does have mr.r. zelenskiy is a certain amount of goodwill among ukrainian voters. he won in a landslide against petro poroshenko, admittedly not with a massiv

he's challenging them to support morehouse college as alumni by giving.g them to support their community by giving. the reality is that the average morehouse student will wind up being in the top 5% of individuals in this country by income by the time they're 50 years old. that's a great thing. now they have to take responsibility for helping others. and i think robert smith challenged them to do that starting now. >> and robert smith, he typically does these things quite quietly. >> very quietly. >> so it's just an incredible gift from him. and what a tremendous gift to these students. david thomas, thank you again for taking time with us. >> thank you. >> thank you so much. >> all right. thank you. >> just amazing, isn't it? all right. well, coming up, the day "game of thrones" fans have dreaded. the show's eight-year run is over. we will dissect the end of this phenomenally successful show. back in just a moment. biopharmaceutical researchers. driven each day to pursue life-changing cures... in a country built on fostering innovation. here, they find b

a dream come true, a $40 million gesture giving the morehouse college class of 2019 a lot to smile about. >>> christine, congratulations on hitting the 20 year mark here at cnn and thank you so much for being such a great colleague, you are a fantastic reporter and anchor. you always make sense of financial news and you explain what it means and how it's going to affect people. what i really admire you for is that you're always always kind and encouraging and you're a great mom. congrats my friend. >> i did not see that coming. >> i would second all of thousands thoughts. >> that is so sweet. >> i didn't even realize it was my 20 year. i knew it was this month. i wasn't aware. feels like yesterday. >> i had that date circled on my calendar. >>> welcome to my "early start," i'm christine romans, i started here when i was 10 years old. >> happy 20th anniversary with the network. a lot more ahead. monday, may 20th, 4:00 a.m. in the east. just when tensions with iran seemed to be easing. president trump reignited them. he is now leiterally threatenin to exterminate the iranians. never threat

he's challenging them to support morehouse college as alumni by giving. he's challenging them to support their community by giving. the reality is that the average morehouse student will wind up being in the top 5% of individuals in this country by income by the time they're 50 years old. that's a great thing. now they have to take responsibility for helping others. and i think robert smith challenged them to do that starting now. >> and robert smith, he typically does these things quite quietly. >> very quietly. >> so it's just an incredible gift from him. and what a tremendous gift to these students. david thomas, thank you again for taking time with us. >> thank you. >> thank you so much. >> all right. thank you. >>> and one of the world's most prestigious military academies is preparing to make history later this week. >> 34 african-american women are expected to graduate from west point. that is the largest class of black women to graduate together in that school's history. this year's class will also include the highest number of female hispanic gra

>>it's a gift of a lifetime for morehouse college's class of 2019. robert smith and now. >>i realized oh wait hours to class. >>but shocking for 22 year-old jordan long who left the school over debt. >>i couldn't continue like adding the debt and that outside family members. those are due to rise and that there's no way on them not like beating myself up about it sunday was supposed to be long graduation dates. >>the oakland native left more house 2 years ago the school is an all-male historically black college in atlanta georgia. long says he was drowning in more than $60,000 in student loans. he decided to move back home where he is now attending community college studying business communication and marketing. >>may is my home and i'm happy to help my home. and that's like been watching all along has plan. >>long is challenging the energy to the need a free quality education as a right. >>and we invested in education and invest in ourselves. then i went in and everyone else wouldn't have some was causing the first place is small there a long time o

smith, the richest black man in america giving the commencement speech at morehouse college sunday. >this is my class, 2019. >> it's already an exciting days next sentence just may have turned it into one of the best days ever. >> and my family is making a grant to eliminate their studen loans. >> what? this man's face says it all. smith promised to pay up to $40 million to pay off each student's loan debt. >> being one who is getting ready to pay back student loans like i just know that they won't even have to worry. >> morehouse college alum jeremy was sitting in his home when he saw the news. like much of the world he was stunned and a bit jealous. but the 2013 grad now working for a consulting firm is just trying to take the high road. >> barack obama was my canadiensment speaker. the commitment to black male excellence in bringing in these influential people who can give back in this way is something that words can't express. >> robert smith is the founder, chairman and ceo of the private equity firm vis tas equity partners. the headquarters sit off the embarcadero and there's as

the commencement speaker at morehouse college giving students the surprise of their lives literally,ouncing he will pay off all their debt. >> robert f. smith is a tech investor known as a quiet billionaire until he made the cover of "forbes" magazine surpassing oprah as the wealthiest black person in the country. >> abc's stephanie ramos has more on his generous gift and what he hopes it will accomplish. >> reporter: it was already one of the proudest days of these young men's lives at morehouse college, but the reality of what their commencement speaker told the nearly 400 graduating seniors is sinking in. >> this is my class, 2019. and my family is making a grant to eliminate their student loans. >> reporter: a graduation gift estimated at $40 million. wiping out the student loan debt of the entire class of 2019. the announcement surprising those on stage. parents in shock amid the cheers. >> i asked the person to the left of me. i asked the person to the right of me, the person in front of me, the person in back of me. is this really what he said? >> reporter: for ernest holmes t

but the one grabbing headlines happened at morehouse college in atlanta. graduates there got a lot more. >> reporter: black college, let's face it. all-in, costs $48,000. but for every member of the year's graduating class, a billionaire's surprise gift means they can chase their dreams, instead of their debt. >> on behalf of the eight generations of my family who have been in this country, we're going to put a little fuel in your bus. >> reporter: morehouse college graduates received way more than their o . this isy class, 2019. >> reporter: billionaire robert smith dropped a $40 million surprise, stunning students and administrators. >> my family is making a grant to eliminate student loans. >> reporter: a promise to pay off every penny of their student loans. smith is the founder and ceo of a private equity firm. according to "forbes" magazine, he's worth an estimated $5 billion. >> just imagine the weight lifted off your shoulders, when you have a clean slate coming out of college. >> reporter: dwight lewis just graduated with a degree in business admin

the class of 2019 at morehouse college got some stunning news at their graduation today. the historically black college counts dr. martin luther king among its alumni. and now the school's newly minted alums have a whole lot to celebrate. >> on behalf of the eight generations of my family who have been in this country, we're going to put a little fuel in your bus. >> the surprise of a lifetime after receiving an honorary doctorate, the commencement speaker, billionaire philanthropist robert smith shocking the graduates with an unexpected gift. >> my family is making a grant to eliminate their student loans. >> paying off every penny of debt for the nearly 400 graduates. cheers for the $40 million lifeline. >> for him to lift that burden off our shoulders, off our parents' shoulders, off our guardians' shoulders, we're at a loss of words right now. >> in 2018, "forbes" listed his net worth at $4.4 billion, making him the world's richest african-american. and his generosity is much needed. the student debt crisis hit record levels in 2018.avage federal debt for graduates of

. >>> next to a man who is instant hero to the graduating class of morehouse college. the billionaire investor giving a commencement address and millions of dollars to pay off every graduate's tuition debt. you heard us right. abc's stephanie ramos with the shock and gratitude after that stunning announcement. >> reporter: it was already one of the proudest days of these young men's lives at morehouse college. but tonight, the reality of what their commencement speaker told the nearly 400 graduating seniors is sinking in. >> this is my class, 2019. my family is making a grant to eliminate their student loans. >> reporter: a graduation gift estimated at $40 million wiping out the student loan debt of the entire class of 2019. the announcement surprising those on stage. parents in shock amid the cheers. >> i asked the person to the left of me, i asked the person to the right of me, the person in front of me, the person in back of me, is this really what he said? >> reporter: for ernest holmes, that means erasing the $10,000 he still owes. >> i think we're all still in sh

. >> the morehouse college class of 2019 has a lot to smile about, their student loans will be paid off. >> from all of us here in the situation room, congratulations on 20, yes 20 years at cnn. i think christine might have been drafted right out of high school, but we'll have to fact check that. cnn is so lucky to have her. we wish her so many years of success. >> thank you, you guys are so sweet surprising me, i didn't realize it was 20 years this week. >> very very happy. >> time flies when you're having fun. i'm christine romans. >> i'm dave briggs, it is monday. they did it again, it appears, leaving a water bottle in one of the sets just like they did that food services cup that everybody thought was a starbucks cup. we'll show you that later in the program. we start overseas, president trump reigniting tensions with iran just when they seem to be easing. he's threatening to exterminate the iranians, saying if iran wants to fight, that would be end of iran. never threaten the unitedstates again. let's bring in cnn's nic robertson live from a. >> reporter: you have the iranian fore

kind of sad. >> jordan long spent two years at morehouse college after graduating from owing tech. he man's on getting an education and changing the world that you money got in the way. his dad, james, owns several t-shirt stores throughout owing in the past and he is fixing up this kiosk to open up a new one. it became difficult on come one the $48,000 a year in tuition jordan was forced to drop out before the school year started. he started a go fund me page because he still owes $60,000 which led him to this conclusion. >> it should be free and high call for everyone. >> with tasha and her son jackson. he graduated lomas he has $150,000 in student loans. they were in the audience when the announcement happened. >> did we hear what he said? is that correct? >> we were all excited and we jumped right up. it hasn't really sank in yet. >> he promises to pay for it forward even if he didn't get the money. abc7 news. >>> emeryville is taking action after learning dublin decided not to raise the pride flag over city hall. it became contend shus. the emeryville city councilmember decide

smith, as well as his mother and the president of morehouse college, david thomas. great to see all of you here this morning. what a weekend you've had. charles, let me start with you. tell me about what was happening inside your brain as the wheels were starting to process what you just heard robert smith say about picking up the tab on everybody's debt. >> good morning. i was thinking -- i was looking around at everyone and a lot of people were kind of looking down, kind of asleep because the sun and we were really hot. then when i heard what he said i looked around and said did he say that? i looked on the stage and i could see all the people is going wild, also all the students going wild. after that when we heard that, it was pretty crazy. >> i think it took a while, frankly, for it to sink in because he didn't announce it the way, like, oprah would have, say, where -- and you get a car, and you get a car. he didn't do that. he was sort of understated. he just said it and you could see the kind of buzz then picking up in the crowd when people, after the kids pr

long is feeling bittersweet who would end and he is happy at for his friends and classmates at morehouse college ever since he's spoken out about leaving and missing out he's gotten national attention and he's using of that as a platform for college debt. >>and he is making a grant to eliminate the student. >>it's a gift of a lifetime for morehouse college's class of 2019. billionaire technology investor robert mcnamara. >>i realized oh wait hours to class. >>but shocking for 22 year-old jordan long who left the school over debt. >>those are due to rise and that there's no way on them not like beating myself up about it sunday was supposed to be long graduation day. the oakland native left more house 2 years ago, so the school is an all-male historically black college in atlanta georgia. long says he was drowning in more than $60,000 in student loans. he decided to move back home where he is now attending community college studying business communication and marketing. >>may is my home and i'm happy to help my home. and that's like been watching all along has plan. >>long is challenging the ener

the graduating class of morehouse college when this man make as stunning promise to all 400 of them. m. at at&t, we believe in access. the opportunity for everyone to explore a digital world. connecting with the things that matter most. and because nothing keeps us more connected than the internet, we've created access from at&t. california households with at least one resident who receives snap or ssi benefits may qualify for home internet at a discounted rate of $10 a month. no commitment, deposit, or installation fee. visit att.com/accessnow to learn more. . >>> president trump today weighed in on the represent abortion ban passed in a number of states. >> he indicateed the new abortion law passed in alabama goes to far. he says he's against abortion except in the case of rape, incest or protecting the life of mother. >> teing the abortion debate. alabama preventing women from terminating pregnancy, even in cases of rape and incest. wisconsin considering a bill that could send doctors to jail for life if they refuse to treat a baby. the issue divided republicans and democrats in w

and they often times struggle with talking more lucrative jobs coming out of morehouse college becauses of companies want to recruit our students and when they look at their college debt, many of them mock the choice to make sure that they can pay off their college debts and not burden their family members with that. also morehouse is well known for sending students to graduate school. many go on to professional graduate schools. medicine, law, architecture and usually ewhen you go to professional graduate schools, you wind up having to take out a significant amount of loans, sothey delay it and in today informs environment t might mean there will be some who wouldn't go. so this really opens up lots of avenues for them. >> it's been such a long time -- when i was in college, it did not cost that much. the cost of college has just gone up exponentially. i just want to read this and talk a little bit more about that. this is from congress. a congresswoman. it is important to node that people shouldn't be in the position to depend on stranger's enormous act of charity for this kind of li

(cheers and applause) >> morehouse college says smith's gift is the largest it has ever received. >> now a quick programming tot, tomorrow morning a new chapter begins on cbs "this morning." gayle king will be joined by cohost anthony mason and tony dokoupil. tune in at 7 a.m. for realÑic original reporting and the new team at the table. and we cannot wait. >> well, next on the cbs weekend news, why a low-fat diet may help you beat breast cancer. >> quijano: a approximate mu cancer study made headline this week. researchers found that a low-fat diet helps reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer. the findings of their large long-term study could have life changing results. dr. tara narula has the details. >> tali lando a pediatric ear nose and throat surgeon was diagnosed with an advanced breast cancer five years ago when she was 37 years old. >> the reality for me changed. i mean mi still here today so that is the good news. >> after surgery, cheem therapy and radiation, lando completely changed her diet. >> it could have a significant impact on my long-term health. >> new data s

>>the student loan debt for the 2019 class of morehouse college in atlanta like everybody graduating there's no student loans when you thought you had the robert f smith made that. >>commitment while delivering the commencement address at morehouse over the weekend. cnn's victor blackwell reports. >>what seemed like a typical commencement address at morehouse college. >>classmates class of 2019. >>turned out to be an unprecedented gift to graduates. >>this is my class as 2019 family is making a grant to eliminate the student. >>billionaire investor robert f smith announces that he is paying off. all of the student debt for the 396 graduates of the historically black college estimated to be 10's of millions of dollars. the stunning announcement leaves students speechless at first. they're like. >>i don't think he really said that no let's try again but then we thought about it will like. yes, yes, sir, he said it then they are rubbed in chance. >>the announcement even surprise of the faculty and staff on stage. >>i've seen lots of graduations i've raised hundreds of millions of dollars

morehouse. so, me and a lot of my other ban members co—sign the loans, for my college tuition and to attend morehousel spreadsheet, i broke it out into going to be looking at a little over 25 years. and i was planning saving that much money as i tell you so i can invest part of whatever little savings i had into the real estate market and be able to use that for the principal amount on my loans itself. but he took care of it. you have spoken about being a black man and a black student. and what this means to you. can you put into context for us? really and truly it is one thing when you are a black man in getting a degree because it is so rare, and also you are long free and has a black man, looking around, it really changed again because you have a whole community of black people brought up and he really moved up our credit scores come us and our parents and family members that paid for us to co—sign ona loan members that paid for us to co—sign on a loan for us to attend morehouse college. so really he turned this into a hold of tax bracket and a group. he changed our lives forever. robert asmus, mo

dr david thomas is president of morehouse college and he's in atlanta georgia.announcement and you seem reacting just after that announcement and you seem thrilled. when you heard what this investor was going to do. well, thrilled ca ptu res was going to do. well, thrilled captures it. i was also amazed. i had no idea. robert smith was going to make that announcement. i was thrilled and amazed and gratified by his generosity. it means so much in the lives of our students. how unusual is it for an alumni of this university or indeed any university 01’ university or indeed any university or college to do something like this? it's unusual. i've been in academia is a professor, a dean, and academia is a professor, a dean, and a president for over 33 years and i've been to many graduations and i've been to many graduations and i've never seen a gift offered like this at a graduation to erase the student debt and it's particularly important for morehouse because over 95% of our students leave with some student debt to support their couege student debt to support their

one graduate plans do to just that.<" ">(jr) morehouse college says this is the single largest gift tosmith had previously announced a 1.5 million dollar gift to the school.(justine) the student debt for the class of 20-19 is estimated to be as much as 40-million dollars. (jrstone) trayvon martin's mother is running for public office in florida. sybrina fulton's campaign manager said she will formally announce her candidacy monday for a seat on the miami-dade board of county commissioners. fulton became a social justice activist following the 2012 fatal shooting of her 17-year- old son. former neighborhood watch captain george zimmerman was acquitted of second-degree murder for trayvon martin's death, igniting protests. the case gave rise to the black lives matter movement. fulton is seeking the commission seat that will open up in 2020, when term limits will keep barbara jordan from running again. miami gardens mayor oliver g. gilbert iii is also running for the seat. (jrstone) up next -- the abortion law debate is heating up. we'll hear how the president is weighing in on the issue..

applause. will doctor david thomas, president of morehouse college told me how he felt as the news of captures it. i was also amazed. i had no idea. no idea that robert smith was going to make that announcement. i was thrilled and amazed and gratified by his generosity. it means so much in the lives of our students. how unusual is it for an alumni of this university or indeed any university or college to do something like this? it's unusual. i've been in academia is a professor, a dean, and a president for over 33 years and i've been to many graduations and i've never seen a gift offered like this at a graduation to erase the student debt and it's particularly important for morehouse because over 95% of our students leave with some student debt to support their college education. we saw some of the students reaction, they seemed thrilled and disbelieving at the same time. what of students said to you since this announcement was made? exactly that, that they are thrilled. i've also had students talk about the ways in which this will help them make choices they might not otherwise have

some graduates of morehouse college took home much more than diplomas this weekend.ou might have heard about billionaire robert f. smith. he said he would pay off the student loan debt for the entire class of 2019. 43 million americans collectively owe about $1.5 trillion in student loan debt. here's mark strassmann. >> this is my class, 2019. >> reporter: at morehouse college, billionaire investor robert smith's commencement speech included a congratulations card stuffed with cash. >> we're going to put a little fuel in your bus. my family is making a grant to eliminate your snt >>eporter: smiil e enbts of at graduating seniors. did you know it was coming? >> i had no idea. >> reporter: morehouse president david thomas. >> people were stunned. if you look at any of the film footage, you see the students turning to each other, what did he say? what did he say? >> for me, graduation was a text from my mama, are you serious? i'm like, he's serious. >> reporter: graduate dwytt lewis is from compton, california, where as a kid he was homeless. the 21-year-old business ma

what that does for me and other students is really just allows us to live the mission that morehouse college has preached to us so dearly, disciplined minds and lead lives of leadership. >> it does come with one condition, but it's rooted in the morehouse tradition. all these graduates must simply pay it forward. i'll tell you how quinton plans to do just that. >> pay it forward and more quickly too. >> we can't wait to see how they pay it forward.k than you, cory. >>> now, fromna tores to flooding. >> new video a little later on of some dramatic water rescues happening today out west. we're live withfihe thand look at the recovery. >>>tond those ss still ongoing in the center part of the country. big time snow back to the west. more tos possible in parts of missouri, even parts of st. louis under a tornado watch. i'll show you what all this means for us and our weather i the next few days as we head closer to memorial day weekend. >>> tommy mcfly is continuing his mission to help you master your grill skills ahead of summer. he's got a trip for you to you know when you're at ross and you fi

prices prices mode morehouse college graduate and bay area native to see that the market. >>jewish and ceremony over the weekend as life changing. commencement speaker robert f smith pledged to pay off student loans for the entire class of 2019. >>as for nearly 400 young men. smith is the ceo of vista equity partners which has an office in san francisco. >>according to forbes magazine. he is the richest african-american in the country after graduate staying in. i'm going eliminate there was saving and investing for my feature. >>and now one of those goals are check off so at this the world is like we're always there. >>rockamore graduated with a degree in business administration. and says he owed nearly $160,000 in student loans without that crippling financial debt. he says he has new plans and goals originally from vallejo california. >>but now i'm considered getting my mba. >>is is i mean. i'm says our limitless now rockamore hopes to pay it forward to give others the same relief he is now experiencing this early from stress. so peaceful, i'm at peace right is it in the

. >>> millions of dollars of student loan debt has been wiped out for graduates of morehouse college thanks to the generosity of robert f. smith, a billionaire investor with bay area ties. one student missed out on that gift. he left morehouse two years ago because of his student loan debt. "abc 7 news" anchor eric thomas has his story. >> it was like bittersweet, kind of sad. >> reporter: that's how oakland's jordan long felt after watching billion air robert smith make this promise to graduating seniors at morehouse college last weekend. >> my family is making a grant to eliminate their student loans. >> reporter: jordan long spent two years at morehouse college after graduating from oakland tech. he had plans on getting an education and changing the world, but money got in the way. >> i've been working on this place for several months now. >> reporter: his dad, james copes, is renovating this kiosk outside oakland city hall to turn it into a tee shirt shot. the $48,000 annual tuition was putting a strain on the family so jordan dropped out and came home to enroll in community coll

mattered so much to you, to be able to provide for mark daniel to go to, of all places, the morehouse college able to send your child out into the world. many families are able to completely pay for tuition, you know, so their child can go out into the world debt free and i think as a parent, knowing that their student loans are hanging over their head, there's a certain amount of guilt there. and so to not have to worry about that, so that he could just build his life, not having to go backwards is great. it's huge. so, yeah. >> and not only go backwards, but mark daniel, listening to mr. smith talk about, i know my class will make sure they pay this forward. pay this forward. and i know you're graduating and you're going on to google and you're going to go be this fancy financial analyst, but how do you plan to pay this gift forward? >> absolutely. i look at it from a micro and a macro sense. in the micro sense, i want to immediately give back to my alma mater, i want to go into my community and make sure we have organizations that continue to mentor young people of color or people from fin

robert f smith, morehouse college, a lot of people in the uk have never heard of them. me is, morehouse is one of those places where the air that i breathe is something special, it's different, when you look at me, you're not going to get scared, you're going to be inspired, i want to get to know you, not just by be inspired, i want to get to know you, notjust by the colour of your skin. 0k, paying it forward. itake it you are going to answer that call of action from mr smith. i have to. definitely, we do plan on doing something. doing something for our next reunion when it comes time to give back and pay it forward since we are debt free. what a way to start your career. and we'll be taking an in—depth look at the papers with our reviewers the political commentator, lance price and the former fleet street editor, eve pollard. that's coming up just after the headlines at 11:30. now it's time for the weather with nick miller. it's that time of year, the bank holiday weekend seems to come thick and fast, another is approaching, how to match the amazing weather over easter

morehouse college, all male black college in atlanta, one mom is quoted here saying i feel like it'sof the families and the relief they felt thinking they had years if not decades of paying off this student loan debt? >> i thought of the commencement address i gave but i didn't offer anything like this. not because i was stingy but because i was still paying off my own student loan. it is a tremendous act of generosity, private and personal generosity. i reacted the same way you did. imagine some of those students sitting there this is graduation, i don't have a job yet. i owe $50,000 in student loans, now what do i do? this burden is then lifted. tremendous. >> sandra: something we can take away from this that's bigger picture, dr. bennett. morehouse billionaire, not only did he do this but there have been other acts at that particular college. he announced in january a $1 1/2 million donation for student scholarships and park on campus. he was able to thrive and go on to success and he is giving back. >> it's a big story, the american story. a black man in america talking about eig

>>jordan long is feeling bittersweet but he fo is happy his friends and classmates at morehouse college after he spoke out about this leaving the school and missing out he's gotten national attention and he's using that platform to spotlight college debt. >>and he is making a grant to eliminate their student. >>it's a gift of a lifetime for morehouse college's class of 2019. billionaire technology investor robert >>i realized oh wait hours to last. >>but shocking for 22 year-old jordan long who left the school over debt. >>i couldn't continue like adding the debt and and that my family members. those are due to rise and that there's no way on them not like beating myself up about it sunday was supposed to b' long as graduation dates. >>the oakland native left more house 2 years ago the school is an all-male historically black college in atlanta georgia. long says he was drowning in more than $60,000 in student loans. he decided to move back home where he is now attending community college studying business communication and marketing. >>may is my home and i'm happy to help my home. and

prices prices mode morehouse college graduate and bay area native to see that the market.remony over the weekend as life changing. commencement speaker robert f smith pledged to pay off student loans for the entire class of 2019. >>as for nearly 400 young men. smith is the ceo of vista equity partners which has an office in san francisco. >>according to forbes magazine. he is the richest african-american in the country after graduate knows listening in. >>i'm going eliminate it was saving and investing for my feature. and now one of those goals are check off so at this the world is like what we stand. >>rockamore graduated with a degree in business administration. and says he owed nearly $160,000 in student loans without that crippling financial debt. he says he has new plans and goals originally from vallejo california. >>but now i'm considered can get my mba. >>is is i mean. i'm says our limitless now rockamore hopes to pay it forward to give others the same relief he is now experiencing this early from stress. so peaceful, i'm at peace right in the taylor does sackey kr

being a thinker just might be too expensive student debt has gotten so bad that this week at morehouse college graduation ceremonies in atlanta georgia billionaire investor robert smith announced a grant to pay off the graduating class of 14000000 in student loan debt and speaking of golden gifts from on high this week also saw the controversial now former mayor of chicago and new liberal golden boy rahm emanuel awarded 2 prime time post mayoral gigs and journalism contributing editor at the atlantic and a.b.c. news contributor because rahm has such a long and expensive career in journalism not really so a student loan skyrocketing and rahm emanuel contributing let's introduce our panel for today joining me is author and speaker. artie america producer brant suborder and host of the world according to judge the former minnesota governor jesse. thank you everybody for joining me i want to i want to start with you governor what what does this say about the state of student loan debt in this country when billionaires are shelling out 40000000 just to cover $400.00 students student debt . unbeliev

the most amazing surprise for the graduating class of morehouse college.antly promises to pay off their student loans, all of them. one of those graduates joins me next. my time is thin, but so is my lawn. now there's scotts thick'r lawn 3-in-1 solution. with a soil improver! seed! and fertilizer to feed! now yard time is our time. this is a scotts yard. s... s...u... s...u...v... these letters used to mean something. letters earned in backwoods, high hills, and steep dunes. but somewhere along the way, suvs became pretenders, not pioneers. but you never forgot the difference, and neither did we. there are many suvs, but there's only one legend. hurry in now to the jeep celebration event and get $500 additional bonus cash on select models. hurry in now to the jeep celebration event another wireless ad. great. so many of them are full of this complicated, tricky language about their network and offers and blah blah blah. look. sprint's going to do things differently. and let you decide for yourself. they're offering a new 100% total satisfaction guarantee.

during a keynote address at morehouse college, billionaire robert f. smith dropped this bombshell. pay off the seniors' student loan debt, all of it, totalling about $40 million. he encouraged those grads to pay it forward. this announcement was met with a standing ovation and cheers of mvp. watch this. >> on behalf of the eight generations of my family who have been in this country, we're going to put a little fuel in your bus. this is my class, 2019. and my family is making a grant to eliminate their student loans. >> all right. let's talk to one of those students in the crowd. elijah nestle dormuous, one of the morehouse college graduates whose debt will be paid off by robert smith. elijah, i love seeing your great smile tonight. what was your reaction when you first heard this announcement? >> so initially, in the first few seconds of hearing it, i was stuck. i am hearing him talk a lot about, you know, one, how his life trajectory deals with how we need to adapt and maneuver into how we can be more successful by taking these series of steps. so when he says it, when he spoke a

this is bloomberg. ♪ caroline: morehouse college graduates may have received the best gift possible.lionaire robert smith announced that he would pay off the student loans of every member of the class of 2019. the jubilation must have been ecstatic. poorew is, poor 2020, 2021. joe: how many billionaires are now being invited to give commencement speeches? romaine: this is great. puts them on sort of i guess a good path if you don't have that debt. caroline: he's a good man. this is bloomberg. ♪ at comcast, we didn't build the nation's largest gig-speed network just to make businesses run faster. we built it to help them go beyond. because beyond risk... welcome to the neighborhood, guys. there is reward. ♪ ♪ beyond work and life... who else could he be? there is the moment. beyond technology... there is human ingenuity. ♪ ♪ every day, comcast business is helping businesses go beyond the expected, to do the extraordinary. take your business beyond. mark: president trump is telling former white house counsel don began to defy a subpoena. says heice department can't be forced to testify

. >>> morehouse college graduates are still beaming after that surprise announcement by their commentmentaker this weekend. >> this is my class, 2019. my family is making a grant to eliminate their student loans. >> by noow you kn the name billionaire unve billionai billionaire investor pledged tens of millions to make sure they're debt free. today cory ith spoke to a local grad about the impact of that generous gift. >> i feel like i've been awake for three days saying i just want to be in bed. >> he returns to his anacostia neighborhood a college graduate. he left morehouse in atlanta with a bachelor of arts in english, lifelong friends and -- >> no debt. what more can i ask for? >> all courtesy ofrobert smith who after speaking with students the day before turned the sunday commencement speech into the surprise of a lifetime. >> my family is making a grant to eliminate their student loans. > in a matter of five seconds, it went from everybody sitting there to shouting. i was sitting in the fifth row, so as r as we were concerned, it was oh my gosh, it was huge. >> as for the proud pent

. >>> ll, morehouse college grads are still basking in the surprise announcement that their udent loanebt is going to be all paid for. today news 4's cory smith spoke to a local morehouse graduate about this generous gift from this billionaire investor. >> i feel likei've been awake for three days. >> quinton returns to his anacostia neighborhood a college graduate. he left morehouse in atlanta with a bachelor of arts in english, lifelong friends and -- >> no debt. what more can i ask for? >> all courtesy of billionaire investor robert smith who after speaking with students turned his sunday commencement speech into the surprise of a lifetime. >> my family is making a grant to eliminate their student loans. >> in a matter of five seconds s it went from everybody sitting there to shouting. i was sitting in the fifth row, so as far as me, it was oh my eosh, it was huge. >> as for thproud parents in the aatience. >> wdid he just say? then we scream. >> for you to see another parent or another family be absolved of this financial debt was just so gratifying. >> in aninstant, the debt of ne

.>>> a billionaire tech investor and philanthropist stuns the graduating class of atlanta's morehouse college today when he said that he is going to pay off all of their student loans.>> my family is making a grants to eliminate the student loans. >> robert smith is pledging $40 million to the graduating class, he said he wants to make sure all the graduates have all the opportunities of the erican class will make sure they pay this forward. i want my class to look at these beautiful morehouse brothers and let's make sure every class has the same opportunity going forward.>> morehouse is a historically black college for men. a wall street journal report found students there had disproportionately higher loans compared to students at other c for, and why the sharks have additional problems other than being down, we will tell you all about that coming up.>>> still at fans react to today's devastating loss and say they are still in holding out hope that the sharks make the finals.>>> game of thrones ended with a series finale. portland's today celebrated the epic with the adorable canines in gam

one of the things you need to know before making your own >>> morehouse college gradtes re still beaminghe surprise announcement by their commencement speaker over the weekend. he's billionaire investor william s. smith. he pledged tens of millions of dollars to ensure the entire graduating class is debt free. >> everyone wishing they wre at morehouse college. >> everyone changing their degrees. >> we're hearing from a local grad. take a list ento quinton paschel. >> i was sitting in the fifth row. as far as we were concerned, it was, oh, my gosh, it was huge. >> quentin is going to be teaching middle school. to give you some perspective. full-time tuition is $25,000 not including room and board, books, other ites. all adds p. this year's college grads had a great surprise. >>> ford is teaming up with a robotics company to devep a two-legged company robot. digit will unfold itself, grab the package and walk t right upo your door. it can lift up to 40 pounds, navigate stairs, uneven terrain and react to situations such as getting bumped without losing its balance. with yur cnbc morning bu

morehouse. the school is an all black mail historically black college. as he made the announcement, he challenged those in the audience to pay it forward . >> because we are enough to take care of our own community. we are enough to ensure we have all the opportunities of the american dream. >> there is a whole background. he is the founder and ceo of vista equity, the firm that invests in software data and technology. it was a gift to the class of 2019 reportedly valued at about $40 million. for more on the men behind the donation, we are joined by washington's columnist, keith alexander. keith, you profiled smith in 2014. he is set to be the first black billionaire with a net worth estimated at somewhere around $5 billion, more than opera. how did he amass such wealth? >> reporter: he is not actually the first black billionaire in the u.s. but he is a billionaire with a capital b. he amassed it basically by buying and selling software companies. he started out as an investment banker on wall street. he did this for various firms like goldman sachs and

smith also, by the way, received an honorary degree from morehouse college and made a small $1 million donation to the college last year. that's remarkable in and of itself. but $40 million in student loan debt wiped t. "the wall street journal" found colleges graduated with 30% more debt. and student death hit record levels in 2018. if student loan debt is the only way to go to college. you go anyway. i graduated. i worked it off. but to walk away like that? my dad would have been just crying. >> i think i saw articles. one guy had a student in morehouse graduating next year. he said maybe he will come back next year and speak as well. >> parents have been working so hard to pay off all of that>> even just one of the students, just to walk away debt free. >> isn't that amazing? >> amazing>> what a gift to give a graduate. >> i need my khreudz to go ids >> only your male son. it's a male college. >> equal opportunity. thanks for a good story. >>> sharks fans, listen up. the sharks face the ultimate ultimatum in sports. it's win or tkpwgo home. if you happened to be in the shark tank ye

he promised the entire graduating class at morehouse college he'll pay off all of their student loanscnn victor blackwell is live in atlanta with more. victor, it seemed like the administration of morehouse didn't see it coming either. >> reporter: they didn't. alisyn, if robert f. smith had pledged to pay off the student loans of just one graduate, that would have been enough to qualify for the good stuff segment, right? to do it for nearly 400 graduates is nearly unbelievable. what seemed like a typical commencement address at morehouse college -- >> class of 2019, you look beautiful. >> reporter: -- turned out to be an unprecedented gift to graduates. >> this is my class, 2019. my family is making a grant to eliminate their student loans. [ cheers ] >> reporter: billionaire investor robert f. smith announces he's paying off all of the student debt for the 396 graduates of the historically black college estimated to be tens of millions of dollars. the stunning announcement leaves students speechless at first. >> we were like, i don't think he really said that. let's try again. when

billionaire robert smith pledges to pay off student loans for the morehouse college class of 2019.actions right ahead here on andrea mitche"and report reports", only on msnbc. on msn. this memorial day, start your summer off right in a new chevrolet. oh, wow!! it's time to upgrade. you guys out did yourselves there. i'm gonna go and get a chevy. an exciting summer begins at your chevy dealer. and now, during the chevy memorial day sales event, get 0% financing for 72 months on these select chevy models. or current gm owners can get twenty seven fifty total cash allowance on this traverse. find new roads at your local chevy dealer. total cash allowance on this traverse. my time is thin, but so is my lawn. now there's scotts thick'r lawn 3-in-1 solution. with a soil improver! seed! and fertilizer to feed! now yard time is our time. this is a scotts yard. ♪ when you have nausea, ♪ heartburn, ♪ indigestion, ♪ upset stomach, ♪ diarrhea... girl, pepto ultra coating will treat your stomach right. ♪nausea, heartburn, ♪ indigestion, upset stomach, ♪ diarrhea... try pepto with ultra coating.

. >>> morehouse college grads are still beaming after the surprisc announent that their student loan debt is going to be completely paid off. this week news4's cory smith spoke with a local morehouse grad about that again russ gift from that billionaire investor. >> reporter: he returns to his anacostia neighborhood a college graduate. he left morehouse with a bachelor of arts in english, lifelong friends, and -- >> no debt. what more can i ask for? >> reporter: it's all courtesy ofillionaire investor robert smith, who after speaking with students the day before turned his sunday commencement speech into the surprisef a lifetime. >> and my faly is making a grant to eliminate their student loans. >> in the matter of like five seconds it went from everybody just sitting there to shouting. i was sitting in the fifth row, so as far as we were concerned, iwas, oh, my gosh, it was huge. >> reporter: as for the proud parents in the audience? >> what did he just say? and then we go ahhh! to see another parent or family be absolved of this financial debt was just so gratifying. >> reporter: in

if you missed it this weekend, look what happened at morehouse college.e saddled with tons and tons of student debt. but not for these graduates. that story and one of the graduates who got such a great gift ahead. the best simple dishes ever? great tasting, heart-healthy california walnuts. so simple, so good. get the recipes at walnuts.org. over the last 24 hours, you finished preparing him for college. in 24 hours, you'll send him off thinking you've done everything for his well being. but meningitis b progresses quickly and can be fatal, sometimes within 24 hours. while meningitis b is uncommon, about 1 in 10 infected will die. like millions of others, your teen may not be vaccinated against meningitis b. meningitis b strikes quickly. be quick to talk to your teen's doctor about a meningitis b vaccine. so we reward every purchase . let's see what kate sent. for you. for all of us. that's for me. navy federal credit union our members, are the mission. it's nice. ♪ you got this! ♪ woo! ♪ ♪ ♪ last year, the department of veteran's affairs partnered with

morehouse is a historically black college in atlanta, ge orgia. >>> all right. on 's better than a cookout a day like today? how about a cookt doing good in the community. the annual big brown getdown took play in anacostia today. it pairs sdents with mentors to givethem advice. are the students get opportunities for internships and scholarships the goal of the cookout, celebrating culture and looking ahead to the future. >> want to connect young people to folks who have made it beyond where they hre to help tem think about their next steps in their life and to help them shape their future. we just want to affirm tt who eno you can make it in thi/yzworld. >> right now this is a yearly event thatÑiq they are hoping have teveral throughouthe yearÑi as well. >>> a local dance troupe will soon perform with a top-selling popt( singer. the steps t.%e teens are taking for a bigçó night and what make this group so inspiring.y am a shooting and then a fire in virtually the st( location. hours apart. is there a connection? invesgators are lookingti you know when you're at

smith stunned the entire graduating class of 2019 at morehouse college in atlanta.e announced he would pay off their student loans. the estimate from him, $40 million. here is the news from atlanta. jonathan. >> and that kind of money could buy a lot of fuel for a bus, harris. the billionaire's gift expected to go into the tens of millions of dollars and it comes with a challenge. take a listen. >> because we are enough to take care of our own community. [cheering] >> we are enough to ensure we have all the opportunities of the american dream. and we will show it to each other through our actions and through our words and through our deeds. >> robert smith calling on alumni to pay it forward. his announcement greeted with cheers from some students, but others had to double-check to make sure they were hearing things correctly. listen. >> check my phone instantly, it was all over social media. i was like, this is real. i was blessed. this is a blessing. >> according to the school, morehouse graduate acquire student debt from $30,000 to $40,000. harris, this huge dona