Alumni Profile: Marvin Madrid, Milpitas HS Class of 2012

As a student in Ken Chiu’s class at Rancho Milpitas Middle School, a young Marvin Madrid was already thinking about his future career. But the now 27-year-old Storyboard artist for Nickelodeon animation studios was looking into a career in the medical field at that time.

“[Mr. Chiu] is the one who really inspired me to take on my creative endeavors,” Madrid recalled. “Mr. Chiu saw something in me and graciously offered to take me, along with some other creative students, on a trip to Pixar Animation Studios to see the inner workings of how to make animated movies. From there, I was sold on my creative dream.”

It was a dream realized for Madrid, who was further inspired by Kaila Schwartz from Milpitas High School: “Through her theater classes and productions, I really learned how to hone my creative skills of acting and world building, which is pivotal in my storytelling job today.”

Madrid, who attended Robert Randall Elementary, John Sinnott Elementary, Rancho Middle School and Milpitas High School (Graduating Class of 2012), earned his Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Animation/Illustration from San Jose State University.

Today, he works on TV shows in TV animation with a team of story artists who translate the script of each episode into drawings to dictate what the scenes for the show look like. “I choose, based on what the story entails, where the camera should be, where the characters are and what they're doing, and draw out story beats that will be animated by animators to make the show,” he explained.

Looking back on his adolescent years, Madrid fondly remembers MUSD schools rich in culture and diversity where he experienced different worldviews and learned to empathize with everyone's experiences.

“In doing so, this really helped develop my story telling abilities to be able to create different stories for my creative driven job,” he said. “It's also helped me become a very collaborative individual and accustomed to working in group settings, often with people of different backgrounds.”

Now living out his dream in Los Angeles but “missing the Bay Area constantly,” Madrid still cherishes growing up in a small town like Milpitas where everyone knew each other, attended the same schools, and offered genuine support throughout high school.

“Our specific high school, I think, has a specific camaraderie that many high schools outside our town lack, and many people that I know from Milpitas High School are still friends to this day,” Madrid said.

As for the future generations, Madrid added: “Enjoy the journey as much as you can. Your years in MUSD schools are your most formative years, so be sure you live it as authentically as you can and surround yourself with people who motivate and support you, and keep them around as long as you can. You can really find lifelong friends in this district."

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