Vanessa Williams To Graduate From College This Weekend

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Nearly 25 years after leaving Syracuse University, Vanessa Williams will get her bachelor of fine arts degree this weekend.

The 45-year-old actress-singer, who stars in ABC's "Ugly Betty," will also deliver the convocation address Saturday to graduates of Syracuse's College of Visual and Performing Arts.

Williams attended Syracuse's drama department as a musical theater major from 1981-1983. She earned the remaining credits for her degree through industry experience and performances on stage and screen.

In 1983, Williams became the first black Miss America. She surrendered the title in July 1984 after Penthouse magazine published nude, sexually explicit photographs of her taken several years earlier.

Over her career, Williams has sold more than 4 million albums, won critical praise for her performances on Broadway, made dozens of TV appearances and starred in several movies.

She has won a Tony, received two NAACP Image Awards and nine Grammy nominations.

In 1996, Williams received the George Arents Pioneer Medal, the university's most prestigious alumni award.

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On the Net:

http://abc.go.com/primetime/uglybetty/index?pnindex

Comments

[rcampbell]

HEADLINE: Vanessa Williams Graduating College This Weekend At 45

Congrats to Ms Williams.

"...Graduating college..."? Perhaps the headline writer should consider some post high school education in English grammer.

[uheardme]

Perhaps you should learn how to spell "grammar".

[Lucille]

Congradulations to Vanessa; she didn't let Penthouse defeat her. God is good.

[NicoleAnonymous]

She is an inspiration to lots of people - and she is also really talented in so many ways.She can act and sing and has great fashion sense. Her skin tone and features are perfect - everything about her is perfect. And she also doesn't lie about having work done on her wrinkles - something hardly any actress with admit.

[hjo4]

Congrats Vanessa, I've always been a supporter and extremly proud of you.

[NoSillyName]

Congratulations! I know its not so easy as an adult; I graduated at 43 after six grueling years of working while doing a double major, fibromyalgia compounded by a bad case of Epstein-Barr, dragging thru the last several semesters and finally graduating summa cum laude in both majors.

That was the high point, unfortunately.

[NoSillyName]

Ah, she wasn't on campus; she was given her degree by portfolio.

Still, congrats.

[LiberalBuzz]

Good for her.

I sometimes find myself envious of certain men because of the women they were fortunate enough to have met and married, and her husband is right at the top of my list of men I am SOOOO Jealous of. Brains, Talent, Beauty,, Compassion, a great sense of humor and welll....everything I think the perfect woman should have.

So good for her!

[unsharpmask]

Ms. Williams is divorced. Mr. Fox is available, go for it!

[LiberalBuzz]

Well dang, I'll have to start paying more attention to E! or Entertainment Tonight! or TMZ.

Nonetheless even in my egotistical self absorbed way I would be willing to admit that she is far out of my league as to be in another solar system, NONETHELESS she is a total package.

[wm1066]

As a w/male that likes to look at lovely women, I have not bought a Penthouse mag since they ran those photos. I thought Penthouse was despicable!
Congrats to Vanessa, A class act!

[aristippe]

so many haters LOL

[kipmartin]

this is SO important! i mean, how many people graduate from college?

[43P04T34]

Vanessa was performing on stage there in Syracuse during her years there and I can tell you that it was clear she was going to be a star in many fields even then. If Lebron James ever gets a college degree in a field related to his profession I'm sure we can count on you to attempt to denigrate him for it, too.

[bac]

"industry experience"! Is Syracuse University becoming yet another degree mill?

[uheardme]

Sure learning how to sing in a classroom is soooo much better than doing it on stage in front of millions over the course of two decades.

[theidaexpress]

"Industry experience", you mean she earned her remaining credits through earning insane amounts of money and having fun! Ridiculous! Go sit in class and learn something like the rest of us have!!

http://www.theidaexpress.com
For stories of substance go to The Ida Express.

[43P04T34]

Vanessa did complete most of her degree at Syracuse in 81-83. It's pretty clear that Vanessa knows more about singing, acting and performing than do most people who take all the courses in four concurrent years.

If degrees were only given to people who have demonstrated competence in 'real life' there wouldn't be many degree recipients.

[loki]

"If degrees were only given to people who have demonstrated competence in 'real life' there wouldn't be many degree recipients. "

How true that is.

[ptillen]

Performing may look like "having fun" to some, but it's a #$%&^%$load of work and, for someone in the musical theatre world (which is, after all, what her degree is in), it's the best classroom there is.

[Pupster]

She didn't earn a degree, she was given it for being a celebrity. It's embarrassing, and a terrible precedent.

[ChiGuy]

Congrats to one of the most beautiful women in the world.

[goldstategirl]

Ditto.

She's awesome. Wonderful actress, singer, blahdee, blah and such.

Nice seeing someone turn what could've been an a disaster in her early 20s into a better, truly wonderful life.

[toppergem]

I agree with you. Vanessa Williams has always been a role model. She is beautiful both inside and outside.