We may not be Yale, but the UA has had its share of famous — or infamous — graduates. Here’s some of the more notable people who tramped across the same Mall and nodded off through the same early-morning classes as you, once upon a time.
Annika Sörenstam. Often called the best female golfer ever, Sörenstam attended the UA from 1990 to 1992. Sörenstam, now 39, retired last December, the same month she gave the 139th Commencement address at the UA.
Bob Dole. The retired Kansas senator and 1996 Republican candidate for president, best remembered for his unsettling habit of referring to himself in the third person (“”You’re going to see the real Bob Dole from now on””), attended the UA from 1948 to 1951.
Geraldo Rivera. Long before commencing his noisy career as a journalist, the New York-born Rivera played varsity lacrosse as a goalie at the UA.
David Foster Wallace. Author of the famously long and difficult novel “”Infinite Jest”” — part of which takes place on the UA campus — as well as a host of tongue-twistingly verbose, insightful essays. Wallace, who died in 2008, received a master of fine arts degree in creative writing in 1987.
Kate Walsh. While it would have been amusingly ironic to report that she studied medicine, the “”Grey’s Anatomy”” actress studied theatre arts at the UA in the ’80s.
Jerry Bruckheimer. The multimillionaire producer got a degree in psychology with a minor in algebra. That’s right, the guy who made “”Black Hawk Down,”” “”Armageddon”” and “”Beverly Hills Cop”” got a minor in algebra. So if you can’t pass it, there’s no excuse.
Kourtney Kardashian. The TV personality and socialite (it feels wrong to call her an “”actress””),best known for her part in two reality shows, got her degree in theatre arts from the UA.
Nicole Richie. Yes, that Nicole Richie. The actress best known for being friends with Paris Hilton (who’s best known for being friends with Nicole Richie) attended the UA for two years, studying art and media.
A few people you might have assumed were alumni, but aren’t:
John McCain. Arizona’s most-famous contemporary politician attended the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis.
Lute Olson. The legendary basketball coach got his degree from Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minn.
Robert Shelton. The president of the UA has degrees from Stanford University and the University of California, San Diego.
