Williams Receives Associate Degree in Fashion Design

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, USA - She has taken part in plenty of awards ceremonies, mostly for her on-court achievements; this time one of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour's biggest stars was honored on a completely different stage. On Thursday, December 13, Venus Williams attended her graduation at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, receiving her Associate's Degree in Fashion Design.

Exceptional tennis results aren't the only thing on the 27-year-old's resume. She has her own interior design company, V Starr Interiors, which specializes in residential design, and she recently launched EleVen, the largest fashion line launched by a female athlete. Now, after arduous studies that often went along with her on Tour, she polishes off another accolade.

"I love fashion and the idea that I'm using my design education to actually create clothing and footwear that reflects my personality and energy both on and off the court," Williams said after the ceremony.

"Venus' drive and focus is somewhere in the stratosphere," commented Andre West, chair of the Fashion programs at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. "She has taken the same drive she shows on the court all the way to the cutting table, sewing machine and computer. We've all given her as much effort as we could to follow her other dream - fashion - and she has given everything and more back to us by her dedication and flair. Not only having a great portfolio, but graduating college is a dream come true for Venus."

"Venus Williams is a woman of so many talents, both on and off the court, and her graduation from fashion school with honors is another example of this," said Larry Scott, the Chairman & CEO of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. "Venus has demonstrated once again that she can excel in whatever she sets her mind to, and with her recently unveiled apparel line will no doubt continue to be a great success in this area in the years to come."

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