Rotarians visit Southside High’s multimedia studio

The Selma Rotary Club traveled to Southside High School Monday afternoon to visit the schools newly built multimedia studio.

Music Arts Design Development (MADD) Studios was built by Southside High School Alumni Andre Williams. Williams, who works from home as a software developer from the U.S. Department of Defense, spent two years and a significant chunk of his own time and money making sure the project came to fruition.

The studio was finally completed over the summer and Southside High School Students will begin classes in the studio next week.

Williams is also in the process of developing a technology program for Selma City Schools with Superintendent Dr. Avis Williams.

Selma Rotarians had the opportunity to get a sneak preview as to what students will be learning this year by hearing Andre Williams speak about the program and its possibilities.

Williams shared with the Rotary Club all of the opportunities that exist for a new generation of students.

Andre Williams spoke of opportunities in fields like e-commerce, software design and sound production that the studio’s programs will ready students for this school year.

After the Rotarians left Andre Williams said he thought hosting the club at the studio went well and he was happy to share the program with the community leaders in attendance.

“If they take this back to the community and say, ‘we can build this with these young people,’ I think we’ll have more hands, and resources at the table,” said Andre Williams.

Andre Williams said that thanks to Rotary Club’s openness in asking questions, he was able to clear up some misconceptions about technology that some of the Rotarians may have been confused or intimidated by.

Selma Rotary Club President James Steele found the outing to be a successful one.

He said the visit allowed the Rotary club to get a better understanding of the community’s youth and be a part of the growth of Selma.

“This is excellent,” said Steele. “I think this young man has tapped into a well that is going to gush, and when it does I think it’s going to be beneficial to all of us.”