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May 22 - 25, 2008: Leadership 500 Summit - Scottsdale, AZ

July 12 - 17, 2008: 99^th Annual Convention - Cincinnati, OH

July 30 - August 3, 2008: ACT-SO 30^th Anniversary Celebration - Walt Disney World Florida

NAACP Celebrates ACT-SO Winners at 30th Annual Student Cultural & Academic Performances

July 8, 2007

Talented young people from a wide array of disciplines were named as national winners in the NAACP’s ACT-SO competitions today. ACT-SO--the Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics--is a major youth initiative of the NAACP.

Gold, silver and bronze medalists were announced during the NAACP's 98h Annual Convention being held in Detroit through Thursday, July 12.

ACT-SO is a yearlong enrichment program designed to recruit, stimulate, improve and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African American high school students. Gold medalists at the local level qualify for the national finals held at the NAACP convention each summer.

This year’s winners by category, their hometown and NAACP branch affiliation follow below:

The 2007 national competitions were held July 5-8 at the Hyatt Regency and Ritz Carlton hotels in Dearborn, Michigan.

Founded in 1978 by renowned author and journalist Vernon Jarrett, ACT-SO provides a forum through which African American youth demonstrate academic, artistic and scientific prowess and expertise, often gaining recognition reserved for entertainers and athletes.

ACT-SO programs span most of a year beginning in the fall, followed by planning and coaching of participants through winter months, culminating in nearly 200 local competitions that run through April. The ACT-SO program is centered around the dedication and commitment of more than 100 community volunteers and business leaders that serve as mentors and coaches.

Students compete in 25 ACT-SO categories including business, sciences, humanities, performing and visual arts. Music and dramatic performances are a perennial favorite of participants but organizers hope to cultivate growth in the entrepreneurship and science categories in coming years. Major initiatives are being launched to enhance math and science entries that demonstrate young people's analytical and critical thinking abilities.

ACT-SO national winners receive financial awards from major corporations, college internships and apprenticeships. Over the last six years State Farm Insurance has generously awarded personal computers to all 75 winners. Other ACT-SO corporate sponsors include: McDonald’s Corporation, the Maryland Institute College of Art, United Parcel Service, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Sodexho, Wal-Mart, Northern Illinois University, Shell Oil, Coca Cola, the US Navy, The Walt Disney Company, Toyota Motor Sales, Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, Dow, Northrop Grumman, Kodak, Hyatt, Nestle, the US Department of Agriculture, NASA and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.     

Famed ACT-SO alumni include musician Kanye West, actress Jada Pinkett-Smith, filmmaker John Singleton and comedian Anthony Anderson.

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization.  Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.

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