Alumni Spotlight: How Portland Waldorf High School Shaped a Creative Career

At Portland Waldorf High School, we celebrate the ways our students grow into confident and creative individuals. One of our alumni, Madison Rowley, Class of 2004, shared how his time at PWS shaped his personal and professional journey.

“What I loved most about the [Portland] Waldorf High School was the smaller class sizes,” Madison recalls. “They gave teachers the space to offer more one-on-one attention and to adjust the curriculum to meet each student’s needs.”

Today, Madison has built a successful 15+ year freelance career in the film industry, working on creative projects like Rides and Baba G. He attributes much of his ability to tackle challenges and pursue new opportunities with confidence to the foundation he received at Portland Waldorf High School.

Outside of film, Madison is also known for his impressive beard. He has been growing it for six-and-a-half years, during which time he has won two World Beard Championships and built a large social media following. His creative self-expression continues to open unexpected opportunities and connect him with communities around the world.

Most recently, Madison has ventured into another craft: cider making. Together with his friend Alan Adams, he founded a small hobby cidery called Wild Kin in Ridgefield, Washington. Their cidery reflects the same spirit of experimentation and artistry that Madison brings to his film career.

You can follow their journey and learn more about Wild Kin here: Wild Kin Cider on Instagram.

Still from a promotional video for Stetson guitars. See more of Rowley’s video here.