Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Image 1 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  U.S. soccer star Alex Morgan, Cal. Morgan was the youngest player on the U.S. team at the 2011 World Cup and starred in the 2012 Olympics.  U.S. soccer star Alex Morgan, Cal. Morgan was the youngest player on...the U.S. team at the 2011 World Cup and starred in the 2012 Olympics.  Image 2 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  'Alien' and 'Avatar' actress Sigourney Weaver, Stanford. It was Weaver's idea to have her giant 'Avatar' character wear a Stanford tank top in the film.  'Alien' and 'Avatar' actress Sigourney Weaver, Stanford. It was...Weaver's idea to have her giant 'Avatar' character wear a Stanford...tank top in the film.  Image 3 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  'Star Trek' and 'Star Trek Into Darkness' actor Chris Pine, Cal.  'Star Trek' and 'Star Trek Into Darkness' actor Chris Pine, Cal.  Image 4 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  'Arrested Development' actor Jeffrey Tambor, SF State. Tambor was named SF State's 'Alumnus of the Year' in 2009.  'Arrested Development' actor Jeffrey Tambor, SF State. Tambor was...named SF State's 'Alumnus of the Year' in 2009.  Image 5 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Academy Award-winning actress Reese Witherspoon, Stanford. Witherspoon spent one year at Stanford before dropping out to pursue acting.  Academy Award-winning actress Reese Witherspoon, Stanford. Witherspoon...spent one year at Stanford before dropping out to pursue acting.  Image 6 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Actor Gregory Peck, Cal. Peck started acting during his senior year in Berkeley and got so obsessed, he skipped commencement to start his career in New York.  Actor Gregory Peck, Cal. Peck started acting during his senior year in...Berkeley and got so obsessed, he skipped commencement to start his...career in New York.  Image 7 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Olympic beach volleyball star Kerri Walsh Jennings, Stanford.  Olympic beach volleyball star Kerri Walsh Jennings, Stanford.  Image 8 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  'Batman' actor Adam West, Stanford. West took post-grad courses at Stanford after attending Whitman College.  'Batman' actor Adam West, Stanford. West took post-grad courses at...Stanford after attending Whitman College.  Image 9 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Legendary 49ers coach Bill Walsh, San Jose State. After playing football at SJSU, Walsh started his coaching career there as a grad assistant and later coached at Cal and Stanford.  Legendary 49ers coach Bill Walsh, San Jose State. After playing...football at SJSU, Walsh started his coaching career there as a grad...assistant and later coached at Cal and Stanford.  Image 10 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Cal.  Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Cal.  Image 11 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Former NFL tight end Tony Gonzalez, Cal. NFL stars Nnamdi Asomugha, Jahvid Best, and DeSean Jackson also came out of Cal.  Former NFL tight end Tony Gonzalez, Cal. NFL stars Nnamdi Asomugha,...Jahvid Best, and DeSean Jackson also came out of Cal.  Image 12 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Image 13 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Singer Michael Franti, USF. Franti played basketball for the Dons before starting his music career and eventually forming Michael Franti and Spearhead.  Singer Michael Franti, USF. Franti played basketball for the Dons...before starting his music career and eventually forming Michael Franti...and Spearhead.  Image 14 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  'Harold and Kumar' actor John Cho, Cal.  'Harold and Kumar' actor John Cho, Cal.  Image 15 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  MSNBC host Rachel Maddow, Stanford.  MSNBC host Rachel Maddow, Stanford.  Image 16 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Fleetwood Mac band members Stevie Nicks, left, and Lindsey Buckingham, San Jose State. Both dropped out of SJSU to pursue music in Los Angeles.  Fleetwood Mac band members Stevie Nicks, left, and Lindsey Buckingham,...San Jose State. Both dropped out of SJSU to pursue music in Los...Angeles.  Image 17 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Image 18 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin, Cal.  Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin, Cal.  Image 19 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  'SNL' alum Dana Carvey, SF State.  'SNL' alum Dana Carvey, SF State.  Image 20 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  'Hawaii 5-0' actor, football star and politician Herman Wedemeyer, St. Mary's.  'Hawaii 5-0' actor, football star and politician Herman Wedemeyer, St....Mary's.  Image 21 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Heisman trophy winner Jim Plunkett, Stanford.  Heisman trophy winner Jim Plunkett, Stanford.  Image 22 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  'Cheers' actor Ted Danson, Stanford. Danson started at Stanford before transferring to Carnegie Mellon.  'Cheers' actor Ted Danson, Stanford. Danson started at Stanford before...transferring to Carnegie Mellon.  Image 23 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  U.S. soccer star Brandi Chastain, Santa Clara.  U.S. soccer star Brandi Chastain, Santa Clara.  Image 24 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  'Smothers Brothers' comedians Tom and Dick Smothers, San Jose State. The brothers, left, appear at an event with Steve Martin, who got his start as a writer for their show.  'Smothers Brothers' comedians Tom and Dick Smothers, San Jose State....The brothers, left, appear at an event with Steve Martin, who got his...start as a writer for their show.  Image 25 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Hall of Fame 49ers star John Henry Johnson, St. Mary's.  Hall of Fame 49ers star John Henry Johnson, St. Mary's.  Image 26 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Actor and activist Danny Glover, SF State.  Actor and activist Danny Glover, SF State.  Image 27 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Olympic gymnast Kerri Strug, Stanford.  Olympic gymnast Kerri Strug, Stanford.  Image 28 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  'Star Trek' actor and Facebook legend George Takei, Cal. Takei transferred to UCLA from Cal.  'Star Trek' actor and Facebook legend George Takei, Cal. Takei...transferred to UCLA from Cal.  Image 29 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  'Criminal Minds' actor Shemar Moore, Santa Clara.  'Criminal Minds' actor Shemar Moore, Santa Clara.  Image 30 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Former Giants player Jeff Kent, Cal.  Former Giants player Jeff Kent, Cal.  Image 31 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Former NBA star Bill Cartwright, USF.  Former NBA star Bill Cartwright, USF.  Image 32 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Brooklyn Nets coach and former NBA star Jason Kidd, Cal.  Brooklyn Nets coach and former NBA star Jason Kidd, Cal.  Image 33 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  NFL Hall of Famers Bob St. Clair, left, and Burl Toler, second from right, USF. St. Clair and Toler are pictured with ex-teammates Ralph Thomas and Vince Tringali before the 2006 Emerald Bowl at AT&T Park. USF also produced football Hall of Famers Ollie Matson and Gino Marchetti.  NFL Hall of Famers Bob St. Clair, left, and Burl Toler, second from...right, USF. St. Clair and Toler are pictured with ex-teammates Ralph...Thomas and Vince Tringali before the 2006 Emerald Bowl at AT&T Park....USF also produced football Hall of Famers Ollie Matson and Gino...Marchetti.  Image 34 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Tennis legend John McEnroe, Stanford.  Tennis legend John McEnroe, Stanford.  Image 35 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, Stanford.  Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, Stanford.  Image 36 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Singer and actor Tony Martin, St. Mary's.  Singer and actor Tony Martin, St. Mary's.  Image 37 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Former NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle, USF.  Former NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle, USF.  Image 38 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Former MLB Commissioner Pete Ueberroth, San Jose State.  Former MLB Commissioner Pete Ueberroth, San Jose State.  Image 39 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Grateful Dead band member Phil Lesh, Cal. Lesh, left, sings with Bob Weir and the Giants' Tim Flannery before an NLCS game at AT&T Park in 2012.  Grateful Dead band member Phil Lesh, Cal. Lesh, left, sings with Bob...Weir and the Giants' Tim Flannery before an NLCS game at AT&T Park in...2012.  Image 40 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Baseball Hall of Famer Harry Hooper, St. Mary's.  Baseball Hall of Famer Harry Hooper, St. Mary's.  Image 41 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  NBA star Steve Nash, Santa Clara.  NBA star Steve Nash, Santa Clara.  Image 42 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Former NBA star and Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, Cal.  Former NBA star and Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, Cal.  Image 43 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Singer Johnny Mathis, SF State.  Singer Johnny Mathis, SF State.  Image 44 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  NFL legend John Elway, Stanford.  NFL legend John Elway, Stanford.  Image 45 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Olympic sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos, San Jose State. Smith, center, and Carlos became famous for their Black Power salute at the 1968 Olympics.  Olympic sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos, San Jose State. Smith,...center, and Carlos became famous for their Black Power salute at the...1968 Olympics.  Image 46 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Former NFL quarterback Jeff Garcia, San Jose State.  Former NFL quarterback Jeff Garcia, San Jose State.  Image 47 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Counting Crows lead singer Adam Duritz, Cal.  Counting Crows lead singer Adam Duritz, Cal.  Image 48 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Multiple gold-medalist swimmer Matt Biondi, Cal.  Multiple gold-medalist swimmer Matt Biondi, Cal.  Image 49 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Former 'Nightline' anchor Ted Koppel, Stanford.  Former 'Nightline' anchor Ted Koppel, Stanford.  Image 50 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  Actor and comedian Rob Schneider, SF State.  Actor and comedian Rob Schneider, SF State.  Image 51 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  NBA great Bill Russell, USF. Russell, center, sits next to Jerry West at a 2013 Warriors game.  NBA great Bill Russell, USF. Russell, center, sits next to Jerry West...at a 2013 Warriors game.  Image 52 of 52 | Famous actors, athletes from Bay Area universities  'American Beauty' actress Annette Bening, SF State.  'American Beauty' actress Annette Bening, SF State.
Last year, we offered local students inspiration in the form of famous Bay Area high school grads. This year, for graduation season, we’re matriculating. If you’re lucky enough to atten…