Oprah Winfrey makes appearance at UW-Milwaukee graduation ceremony

MILWAUKEE-- Friends and families gathered Sunday, December 17th to watch as seniors at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee crossed the stage and became graduates.

Among the people in the crowd was none other than Oprah Winfrey!  Winfrey was in the audience along with her long-term partner, Stedman Graham.

UWM officials confirmed Oprah was there to see her half-sister, Patricia Lee, graduate from UWM. Seats were reserved for Winfrey and her family, and Winfrey provided her own security, UWM officials said.

They noted that "very few people knew she was coming," and it appeared most people didn't realize she was there.

They described it as "low key" out of respect for the family's wishes and a desire not to distract from the graduates.

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2017!