Student combines passions for storytelling and sports

Kirby Milam started editing videos in fifth grade, developing a passion for storytelling at a young age.

"I always liked to edit videos on my phone…like, iMovie and stuff. Just for fun," Milam said. "That was before I ever picked up a camera."

Growing up outside of Houston, Texas, sports were also a big part of Milam's life. He spent weekends attending football games with his dad and the rest of his free time playing basketball.

"I kind of had these two separate passions," he said, "one for storytelling and then another passion for sports."

It wasn't until age 16 that Milam's two passions merged and he thought about making it a career. He picked up a real camera and started recording and editing videos involving sports. "That's when it started to feel real, like this could actually be what I do," he said.

Charting a different path

Milam started his academic journey at Texas State University, where he began interning for the football team freshman year. His internship led to a position as creative video producer and came with more responsibilities.

With stacking commitments, Milam found himself searching for something new.

After reaching out to some mentors, the idea of transferring to Boise State University felt possible.

"Nobody really does that…transferring across the country just for your senior year," Milam said. "It was a tough decision, but I felt like I had to take the chance."

Luckily, Milam already knew he wanted to work in video production after graduation and was majoring in digital media innovation at Texas State. When he found the Digital Innovation + Design (DI+D) degree, it felt like a perfect match.

DI+D's flexibility allowed most of his credits to transfer over, so he could stay on track to graduate. It also meant he wasn't just filling requirements, but that he could build a degree around classes that connect directly to his interests and career goals.

"As far as academics go, it worked out better than I could've hoped for," he said. "I honestly haven't taken a class here that I didn't like."

Applying course projects outside of the classroom

Milam now works as the creative video producer for the Boise State football team and is directly applying skills he's learning in his courses to elevate his video work.

In his Motion Graphics course, part of the Digital Media certificate, Milam is learning tools like Adobe After Effects and Blender - programs he already uses in his job but had never formally studied.

"It's one of the few classes where I've been actually excited to go and learn, not just show up for a credit. I can take what I learn in class and apply it to my work immediately."

Learning how to use keyframes and the graph editor in After Effects has already made a noticeable difference in the videos he produces for the football team. Instead of relying on trial and error, he's able to be more precise and intentional with motion and timing in his edits.

The connection between coursework and career became even more clear in a seven-week NIL course that required consistent writing assignments.

"Writing is storytelling, and storytelling is what video editing is, too," Milam said. "You're trying to condense a story, leave in the right details and cut what doesn't matter. It's the same process."

"I didn't realize how similar writing and video editing are until I came here," he added.

Looking ahead

After graduation, Milam hopes to keep building a career in sports video production. He has applied for internships with NFL teams and is open to working in college or professional athletics.

"Working in the NFL would definitely be a dream of mine," he said. "College sports, professional sports - anything where I can do creative video."

For now, he's focused on getting as much experience as he can. "I'm just trying to get all the cool experiences now while I can," Milam said.

The move to Boise was a risk. But between football and the classroom, he feels like he found the right balance.

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