Winfrey has honorary doctorates from Duke University and Princeton, among others.

UFS says this particular degree is to recognise the immeasurable contribution she has made to the world.

and the mayor, and esteemed South African singer Sibongile Khumalo performed for a captivated audience.

Mississippi, to world record books, Winfrey looked nothing but proud and emotional to accept the honour.

from Duke University and Princeton, among others. UFS says this particular degree is to recognise the immeasurable contribution she has made to the world. “Ms Winfrey had the world to choose from, but she chose our South Africa,” said Vice Chancellor Jansen of the work Winfrey has done in the country.

The graduation ceremony was also an emotional moment for Dr Winfrey, who shed silent tears. Her motivational talk afterwards was very inspiring. Dr Winfrey said that everybody can be successful. They just need to apply their minds to what they want. “Never give up. You are not defined by your circumstances. There is hope. Have a vision and let that vision be bigger than yourself. Allow yourself to live in that space of yourself,” Dr Winfrey said.

community helped along with others showing guests to their seats, providing guests assistance with parking and taking care of general enquiries from the audience. The university received messages of congratulations from all over for the arrangements and the professional way in which the ceremony was presented.

About 100 volunteers from the university Winfrey has honorary doctorates From humble beginnings in rural

after her early success in the Upward Bound programme she was transferred to the affluent suburban Nicolet High School, where she says her poverty was constantly rubbed in her face as she rode the bus to school with fellow African-Americans, some of whom were servants of her classmates’ families.

education her priority. She became an honours student, and was voted Most Popular Girl. She joined her high school speech team at East Nashville High School, placing second in the nation in dramatic interpretation. She won an oratory contest, which secured her a full scholarship to Tennessee State University, a historically black institution, where she studied communication.

local grocery store. At age 17, Winfrey won the Miss Black Tennessee beauty pageant. She also attracted the attention of the local black radio station, WVOL, which hired her part-time to do the news. She worked there during her senior year of high school, and again while in her first two years of college.

television history with her daily talk show, which is attributed with the popularisation of the intimate confessional form of media communication.

News coverage and photograph courtesy of the University of Free State www.ufs.ac.za and BUA News www.buanews.gov.za/ news/11/11062416151001

Winfrey has since gone on to make Her first job as a teenager was working at a Encouraged by her father, Winfrey made Winfrey attended Lincoln High School, but

36 Management Today | August 2011