Alumni Reflection Video - Pixar's Tom Porter For Fenn

It’s hard to imagine that there could be a better spokesperson for a school than Tom Porter. Tom graduated from The Fenn School in 1965 with an interest in mathematics that had been cultivated by his teachers. He went on to Exeter, Penn and Stanford - then became one of the founding members of Pixar Animation Studios. He has spent his career applying the results of his love for math; his work has helped the animation studio more accurately render how light and shadow appear in the real world.

Now, with Pixar having won more than a dozen Oscars, we sat down with Tom to talk about his memories of his time at Fenn. Please watch the video below to hear about Tom’s experience.

Why Alumni Reflection Videos Matter

So, clearly Tom Porter is exemplary, a tough act to follow, but there is a larger point to be made about the impact that a well crafted alumni reflection can have. We have always advocated the idea of telling a small story that represents a larger truth, and Tom’s story is a great example of that. Tom’s experience at Fenn, while it feels unique, is actually pretty common - and we have learned that is what makes Fenn a special place. The school has a way of identifying what sparks the interest of each boy and cultivates it. They ask their students to stretch beyond what might be comfortable, and they do it in a supportive way. That was Tom’s small story, and it set him on a track for an incredible career. But that is also Fenn’s story, and Tom has the ability to show it to you in a way a more sweeping video might struggle with.

So many schools and companies talk about the need to be authentic, and maybe that’s the real power of alumni reflection videos - they make a large point without seeming to try too hard.

If you are interested in our work, please feel free to reach out, we’d love to talk to you about your story.