Matthew Tornero: Outstanding Graduate, College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts

May 29, 2019

PSFA College Council President and Theater, Television and Film graduate Matthew Tornero was named Outstanding Graduate for the entire college of PSFA. Tornero was the President and Vice President for PSFA College Council, as well as Executive Vice President and treasurer for Skull and Dagger Dramatic Society. Tornero participated in four faculty-directed theatre productions as an actor and has produced several short films while at SDSU.

“These leadership positions forced me to make executive decisions, some in which I firmly believed, others needed more convincing from colleagues, but ultimately all were for the good of the organizations I served. They pushed me to my mental capacity several times, and in some cases made me exceed it,” said Tornero.

While at SDSU, Tornero was awarded the Associated Students Study Abroad Scholarship for his study abroad experience in Edinburgh, Scotland. While studying abroad in Scotland for three weeks during the summer of 2017, he saw several theatrical performances, attended a film festival, hiked in the highlands and created closer bonds with his friends.

“Studying abroad has made me all the more excited for my next opportunity to learn in a new locale, whenever and wherever it may be.” said Tornero.

His career goal is to use the storytelling skills he has learned to produce film and television, empowering other filmmakers to bring their diverse ideas to the screen.

“My major provided me with a foundation of training in the storytelling arts, teaching me how to properly analyze narratives, get underneath the skin of each character I play, and effectively use self-guided techniques to realize these characters from the page to the stage and screen,” says Tornero.

The content within this article has been edited by Lizbeth Persons.

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