Vanessa Williams gets her degree!!

Photo Courtesy of Evan Agostini/Getty Images

Vanessa Williams gets her degree from Syracuse ... a quarter-century after matriculating
by Vicki Hyman

Courtesy of Star-Ledger Staff
Wednesday May 07, 2008, 12:55 PM

Vanessa Williams will receive a degree from Syracuse University this week, and there's nothing honorary about it ... okay, maybe a teeny bit honorary: The "Ugly Betty" star was a musical theater major at the school from 1981 to 1983, but left around the time she was crowned Miss America, and never returned.
Williams, who gave up her title in 1984 because of a nude photo scandal, went on to a successful music, film and television career, and the university is giving her credit for her industry experience in awarding her a bachelors of fine arts, the Associated Press reports. Williams, a Tony winner, will also deliver the convocation address Saturday.

Hall of Fame

Heath and I were invited to the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame Banquet the past weekend. It was an honor to be in such esteemed company. It was a first-class event all the way! The 2008 incuctees are:

Wray Carlton - 9th all-time AFL rusher for the Buffalo Bills

Hoss Ellington - famed Winston Cup car owner

Cathy Johnston-Forbes - LPGA Championship golfer

Clyde Simmons - 15-year Defensive Lineman & Pro Bowler for the Philadelphia Eagles

Buck Hardee - one of the most well-known & winningest high school baseball coaches in NC

It was an all-star night that we hope to attend every year!

Photos: Mayor Bill Saffo; NFL great, Clyde Simmons

What an awesome weekend

The USS NC 777 submarine was commissioned in Wilmington this weekend in front of 6,000 invitation only guests. It was absolutely fabulous!! When I was Miss USA, I did a USO tour in Newport News, VA and visited the sub, it's crew and builders while it was still in construction. They were so kind to me and I loved the experience. Well, I was a guest at the NC Azalea Festival a few weeks ago with Commander Mark Davis (pretty much the boss that runs the sub) and he invited me to the commissioning and needless to say, I was ecstatic!

So here we are with our good friends, Wells and Dawnn and of course the Captain and his lovely wife B.

The sub is now ready for battle and tops any other naval force in the world. Don't mess with the best! A huge thanks to Commander Davis, Senator Elizabeth Dole and Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo for a weekend I'll never forget!

My first trip to West Virginia!

AT and I had the pleasure of judging the Three Rivers Festival Pageant in Fairmont, WV on April 26. It was my first trip to the mountaineer state and I was really excited about it. The pageant is a preliminary to the Miss WV USA and Teen USA state pageants and is directed by the state executive director, Randy Sanders. We just love Randy and jumped on the chance to spend the weekend with him and his staff.

We judged with Kim Coppola, Owner of Serendipity Accessories to Express Yourself, located in Pittsburgh. Not only were Kim and her husband, Pete, awesome to hang out with, their store is amazing! Serendipity is definitely my new obsession. They carry fantastic jewelry, purses and one-of-a-kind pieces. I pretty much wanted everything in their store! You HAVE to check them out at: http://www.serendipityaccessories.com/ .

A big thanks to Randy for an outstanding weekend and congrats to the beautiful winners, Brigitte and Jessi! http://www.pageantassociates.com/