Watch: Here’s the moment Robert Smith told Morehouse graduates he would pay their student loans

Billionaire Robert F. Smith announced to the Morehouse College graduating class of 2019 that he would pay off their school debt.

How do you tell the Morehouse College graduating class that you'll pay off their student loans? Billionaire Robert F. Smith slipped the news into his graduation speech at the Atlanta college on Sunday.

Here’s an excerpt from that part of his speech:

“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.

“And I've got the alumni over there and this is the challenge to you alumni. This is my class, 2019. My family is making a grant to eliminate their student loans.

“Now I know my class will make sure they pay this forward. And I want my class to look at these alumnus, these beautiful Morehouse brothers and let's make sure every class has the same opportunity going 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. And we will show it to each other through our actions and through our words and through our deeds.

“So class of 2019, may the sun always shine upon you. May the wind always be at your back. And may God always hold you in the cradle of her hand.”

Before Morehouse gift, billionaire Robert Smith donated money to buy MLK birth home

> Quotes: Robert F. Smith's five rules for living well

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Graduates react after hearing billionaire technology investor and philanthropist Robert F. Smith say he will provide grants to wipe out the student debt of their entire graduating class at Morehouse College in Atlanta on Sunday.

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Commencement speaker billionaire Robert F. Smith announces he is paying all student debt for the Class of 2019 during the Morehouse College graduation ceremony In Atlanta, Sunday, May 19, 2019.  STEVE SCHAEFER / SPECIAL TO THE AJC

Credit: Steve Schaefer

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Credit: Steve Schaefer