HENLEY-ON-KLIP, South Africa (AP) — Oprah Winfrey makes no apologies for spending millions on an elite school for underprivileged South African girls.

Winfrey spoke yesterday on the eve of the first graduation at her school. Of the 75 students who started at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in 2007, 72 who will graduate Saturday.

Oprah Winfrey

All are headed to universities in South Africa and the United States to pursue such studies as medicine, law, engineering and economics.

“We’re taking a victory lap here, for transformation,” Winfrey said. “Every single girl is going to leave here with something greater to offer the world than her body.”