She’s one of the richest women in the world and can have anything, so what brought the most powerful woman in Hollywood to tears? An honorary degree from a school that struggled with race relations.

Oprah Winfrey received an Honorary Doctorate in Education from the University of the Free State on Friday in South Africa and the Queen of Media was crying as she was presented with the degree.

Wiping away tears, Oprah smiled as she recalled the changes she has seen in the University. Five years ago four white students made a video humiliating black housekeeping staff in opposition to integration at the school. The students apologized this year after a new black rector Jonathan Jansen called for their forgiveness too.

After she accepted her honorary doctorate Oprah invited the five housekeeping staff members on stage and said they were heroes.