NAACP Proudly Announces 30th Anniversary ACT-SO Medalists
December 31, 1969Talented young people from a wide array of disciplines took their place in history recently by being recognized as national winners in the NAACP ACT-SO competitions.
ACT-SO--the Afro-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 30th anniversary celebration of ACT-SO that concluded with award ceremonies Aug. 3 at Walt Disney World’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando Fla., co-hosted by actors Tichina Arnold and Terry Crews.
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 each summer.
This year’s winners by category, hometown and NAACP branch affiliation follow below:
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Architecture |
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Gold |
Noah Kramer |
Kalamazoo, MI |
Metropolitan Kalamazoo Branch |
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Silver |
Joyce Johnsono |
MIAMI, FL |
Miami Dade Branch |
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Bronze |
Conlei Blanks |
Cincinnati, OH |
Cincinnati Branch |
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Gold |
Terrence George |
Chicago, IL |
Chicago Westside Branch |
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Silver |
Jasmine Roberts |
Tampa, FL |
Hillsborough County Branch |
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Bronze |
James Hines |
Philadelphia, PA |
Philadelphia Branch |
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Gold |
Dasha Savage |
Philadelphia, PA |
Philadelphia Branch |
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Silver |
Tyrone Howard |
Baltimore, MD |
Baltimore City Branch |
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Bronze |
Lacie Pierre |
Los Angeles, CA |
Los Angeles Branch |
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Gold |
David Brown |
Albuquerque, NM |
Albuquerque Branch |
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Silver |
Malcom Keith |
Dayton, OH |
Dayton Branch |
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Bronze |
Travis Nwachokor |
Missouri City, TX |
Houston Branch |
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Gold |
Andrew Cribbett |
Thomasboro, IL |
Champaign Branch |
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Silver |
Jeroboam Bozeman |
Brooklyn, NY |
Brooklyn Branch |
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Bronze |
Jasmine Black |
Baltimore, MD |
Baltimore County Branch |
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Gold |
Najee Temple |
MIAMI, FL |
Miami-Dade Youth Council |
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Silver |
Jeanell Allen |
Altamonte springs, FL |
Orange County Branch |
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Bronze |
Shakera Tuggle |
Baltimore, MD |
Baltimore City Branch |
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Gold |
Nathaniel Jones |
Pine Hill, NJ |
Philadelphia Branch |
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Silver |
Orissa Jenkins |
NORTH MIAMI BEACH, FL |
Miami-Dade Youth Council |
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Bronze |
Clinnie Brinson |
Ft. Walton Beach, FL |
Okaloosa County Branch |
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Silver |
David McMillon |
Saginaw, MI |
Saginaw Branch |
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Bronze |
Aisha Payne |
Crown Point , IN |
Gary Branch |
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Gold |
Christen Robinson |
Saginaw, MI |
Saginaw Branch |
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Silver |
Daniel David |
Corona, CA |
San Gabriel Valley |
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Bronze |
Marius Bizimungu |
Buffalo, NY |
Buffalo Branch |
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Gold |
RaShaun Robinson |
Raytown, MO |
Kansas City Youth Council |
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Silver |
Fantashia Stevens |
Cleveland, OH |
Cleveland Branch |
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Bronze |
Krysal Matthews |
Jersey City, NJ |
Mid-Manhattan Branch |
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Gold |
Robert Scurlock |
Gary, IN |
Gary Branch |
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Silver |
Bryan Pasian |
New York, NY |
Mid-Manhattan Branch |
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Bronze |
Andre Ash |
Detroit, MI |
Detroit Central Branch |
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Silver |
David McMillon |
Saginaw, MI |
Saginaw Branch |
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Bronze |
Michael Mekonnen |
Silver Sping, MD |
Montgomery County Branch |
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Gold |
Nolan Ford |
Saginaw, MI |
Saginaw Branch |
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Silver |
Queenosob Hashi |
Buffalo, NY |
Buffalo Branch |
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Bronze |
Asha Smith |
Ossining, NY |
Westchester Region Coalition |
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Gold |
Alfred Sheppard, Jr. |
Tampa, FL |
Hillsborough County Branch |
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Silver |
Dorian Hawkins |
MIRAMAR, FL |
Miami Dade Branch |
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Bronze |
Christopher Leysath |
Orangeburg, SC |
Orangeburg Branch |
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Music: Inst./Classical |
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Gold |
Jordan Thomas |
Philadelphia, PA |
Philadelphia Branch |
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Silver |
Saila Reyes |
Agoura, CA |
San Gabriel Valley |
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Bronze |
Diondre McKinney |
Houston, TX |
Houston Branch |
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Gold |
Joshua Sommerville |
Gaithersburg, MD |
Montgomery County Branch |
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Silver |
Alan Lawson |
Cincinnati, OH |
Cincinnati Branch |
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Bronze |
Jazmin Ghent |
MADISON, AL |
Limestone County Branch |
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Gold |
LaRon Thompson |
Kansas City, KS |
Kansas City Youth Council |
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Silver |
Michael Wordly |
MIAMI, FL |
Miami Dade Branch |
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Bronze |
Daniel Farmer |
Memphis, TN |
Memphis Branch |
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Gold |
Tiffany Williams |
Jackson, MS |
Jackson-Hinds Youth Council |
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Silver |
Azschrielle Jackson |
Jacksonville, FL |
Jacksonville Branch |
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Bronze |
Michael Wordly |
MIAMI, FL |
Miami Dade Branch |
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Gold |
Ebony Gray |
Kalamazoo, MI |
Metropolitan Kalamazoo Branch |
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Silver |
Ashleigh Taylor |
Memphis, TN |
Memphis Branch |
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Bronze |
Ricardo Clark |
fort lauderdale, FL |
Fort Lauderdale Branch |
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Gold |
Grantham Coleman,II |
Missouri City, TX |
Houston Branch |
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Silver |
Christopher Moncrief |
Bronx, NY |
Williamsbridge Branch |
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Bronze |
Sharai Bryan |
Williamsburg, VA |
York-James City-Williamsburg Branch |
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Gold |
Terrance David |
Randallstown, MD |
Baltimore County Branch |
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Silver |
Wesley Chavis |
Chesapeake, VA |
Portsmouth Branch |
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Bronze |
Ni-Ka Ford |
Atlanta, GA |
Atlanta Branch |
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Gold |
Rodney Jones II |
Dundalk, MD |
Baltimore County Branch |
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Silver |
Gisella Gutierrez |
Piscataway, NJ |
Metuchen-Edison Area Branch |
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Bronze |
Elmore Davis |
Marion, SC |
Marion County Branch |
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Gold |
Chelsea Dixon |
Alta Loma, CA |
San Gabriel Valley |
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Silver |
Phillip Nwachokor |
Missouri City, TX |
Houston Branch |
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Bronze |
Jordan Smith |
Fort Worth, TX |
Arlington Branch |
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Gold |
Aeriel Robinson |
Chicago Heights, IL |
Chicago Westside Branch |
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Silver |
Keith Smith |
Baltimore, MD |
Baltimore City Branch |
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Bronze |
Jessica Avant |
Des Moines, IA |
Des Moines Branch |
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Gold |
Tielah Williams |
Harisburg, PA |
Greater Harrisburg Branch |
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Silver |
Lester Smith III |
Marston, NC |
Scotland County Youth Council |
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Bronze |
Brittany Arnett |
Flint, MI |
Flint Branch |
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Gold |
Quamesha Brown |
Memphis, TN |
Memphis Branch |
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Silver |
Erik Clark |
Chicago, IL |
Chicago Westside Branch |
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Bronze |
Rhea Leonard |
MIAMI, FL |
Miami Dade Branch |
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 based on the dedication and commitment of more than 100 community volunteers and business leaders that serve as mentors and coaches.
In its 30 year history an estimated 261,000 young people have participated in ACT-SO events. More than 700 national gold medalists have come from 28 states. Over that time more than $354,000 in national competition prizes—bonds, monetary awards, laptop computers, scholarships--have been granted.
ACT-SO national winners receive financial awards from major corporations, college internships and apprenticeships. Corporate sponsors include: McDonald’s Corporation, the Maryland Institute College of Art, United Parcel Service, Ronald McDonald House Charities, State Farm, Sodexho, Wal-Mart, Northern Illinois University, Shell Oil, Coca Cola, the US Navy, Berkeley College of Music, The Walt Disney Company, Toyota Motor Sales, Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, Dow, Northrop Grumman, Kodak, Hyatt, Nestle, NASA and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.
ACT-SO alumni occupy a wide array of careers including executive positions with corporations like Lockheed Martin and Citigroup—one even serves a vocal coach for FOX television’s “American Idol.” 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.
Media Contact: Richard J. McIntire (410) 580-5787
