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Widow of Will Smith accepts his masters degree at emotional ceremony (video)

By Jason Parker

ST. LOUIS, MO - OCTOBER 30: Will Smith #91 of the New Orleans Saints looks on against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome on October 30, 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri. The St. Louis won 31-21. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO - OCTOBER 30: Will Smith #91 of the New Orleans Saints looks on against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome on October 30, 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri. The St. Louis won 31-21. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /
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The widow of former New Orleans Saints star Will Smith accepted her late husband’s masters degree from the University of Miami on Thursday.

It’s been nearly a month since tragedy struck the family of former New Orleans Saints star Will Smith. The defensive end who was once the captain of the team was shot and killed following an altercation with another driver on a New Orleans street late at night on April 9th.

His wife, Racquel, was also shot in the incident and spent weeks recovering from her injuries in an area hospital. Thursday, she was out of the hospital and in the city of Miami, where she accepted Smith’s master degree that he had been working on from the University of Miami:

Will Smith had been working toward his MBA from the school in a new, accelerated programs specifically for musical artists, actors and athletes who want to get their graduate degree. Smith graduated from Ohio State with a bachelors degree in criminology in 2005, one year after being a first round pick of the Saints.

Smith spent 10 seasons with the franchise, earning a Pro Bowl berth after the 2006 season and being a part of the Super Bowl championship team during the 2009 season. He spent time as the team’s captain before having his career end after suffering an ACL injury during the 2013 preseason.

The man who shot Will Smith, 28 year old Cardell Hayes, has been charged with second degree murder in the case, while his attorneys are claiming he shot Smith in self defense.

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