Vanessa Williams Getting Her Degree

Story Published: May 6, 2008 at 11:47 PM EDT

Story Updated: May 7, 2008 at 7:48 AM EDT

YouNewsTV™

By Siobhan Garrett

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) - Actress and recording artist Vanessa Williams will receive her bachelor of fine arts degree from Syracuse University this weekend, 25 years after she left school there.

Williams also is delivering the convocation address Saturday to graduates of Syracuse's College of Visual and Performing Arts.

The star of ABC's "Ugly Betty," 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 her substantial performances on stage and screen.

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

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