Oprah Winfrey to deliver Spelman graduation speech

Font Size:

Thursday, April 19, 2012

ATLANTA (AP) -- Media icon Oprah Winfrey will address the Class of 2012 of Spelman College next month and will also receive the institution's National Community Service Award.

Winfrey received an honorary degree from the historically black women's college in 1993. She will speak to the Spelman's 550 graduates on May 20.

Winfrey is being cited for her philanthropic efforts focused on education, including the establishment of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa, where she has invested more than $40 million to educate students in grades seven through 12.

Three students from that academy have been accepted as first-year students at Spelman as part of the Class of 2016, and Spelman students have participated in internships at the academy, tutoring students and serving as resident assistants.

(Copyright 2012, The Associated Press)