ACT-SO Achievement Program
Pursue your creative talents and academic dreams with purpose and unrestricted passion.
Explore your passions
Each year, high school students across the country start a journey to sharpen their skills through the Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO). From visual arts and business to performing and culinary arts, participants work with community-based volunteers for a year to develop projects and performances. The experience culminates in local and national events where students compete for scholarships and other rewards.
Congratulations to our 2025 Medalists
- Architecture
- Gold: Aya M., Southside Chicago Branch
- Silver: Makana S., Jacksonville Branch
- Bronze: Shai-Li S., Scotland Youth Council
- Biology/Microbiology
- Gold: Ashley A., Newark Branch
- Silver: Abdulla M., Philadelphia Branch
- Bronze: Olivia W., Mount Vernon Branch
- Chemistry/Biochemistry
- Gold: Chandler B., DuPage County Branch
- Silver: London M., Newark Branch
- Bronze: Frank M., Mount Vernon Branch
- Computer Science
- Gold: Anirudh N., Albuquerque Branch
- Silver: Amber W., Dupage County Branch
- Bronze: Niara D., Southside Chicago Branch
- Drawing
- Gold: Nydiadelicx B., Willingboro Branch
- Silver: Madison S., Cincinnati Branch
- Bronze: Ashir S., Scotland Youth Council
- Earth and Space Sciences
- Gold: Sonia W., Brockton Branch
- Silver: Delia A., Dupage County Branch
- Bronze: Haasika J., Albuquerque Branch
- Engineering
- Gold: Amerah W., DuPage County Branch
- Silver: Ifeoma O., Southside Chicago Branch
- Bronze: Dedrick H., Hillsborough Branch
- Mathematics
- Gold: Ashley W., Dupage County Branch
- Silver: Makana S., Jacksonville Branch
- Bronze: Anirudh N., Albuquerque Branch
- Medicine and Health
- Gold: Breana S., Mount Vernon Branch
- Silver: Ashley A., Newark Branch
- Bronze: Edward M., Dupage County Branch
- Physics
- Silver: Dami A., Chicago Southside
- Bronze: Yvangi J., Brockton
- Music Composition
- Gold: Donovan H., Montgomery County Branch
- Silver: Ethan O., Greater Indianapolis Branch
- Bronze: McQuay M., Virginia Beach Branch
- Original Essay
- Gold: Demarion M., Coraopolis Branch
- Silver: Rob H., Boston Branch
- Bronze: Bailee B., Houston Branch
- Playwriting
- Gold: Jordan F., Prince William Co. Branch
- Silver: Victoria D., Carroll County Branch
- Bronze: Gerard C., Albany-Dougherty Youth Council
- Poetry Written
- Gold: Emiah N., Detroit Central Branch
- Silver: Demarion M., Coraopolis Branch
- Bronze: Ellis D., Gary Branch
- Short Story
- Gold: Christian J., Oranges And Maplewood Branch
- Silver: Leonard O., Mount Vernon Branch
- Bronze: Isaiah M., Hillsborough Branch
- Dance: Ballet
- Gold: Kendall M., Houston Branch
- Silver: Leah P., Brockton Branch
- Bronze: Sydney D., Las Vegas
- Dance: Contemporary
- Gold: Ariel B., Fort Worth Tarrant County Branch
- Silver: Aliyah G., Boston Branch
- Bronze: Journey S., Jacksonville Branch
- Dance: Modern
- Gold: Leah P., Brockton Branch
- Silver: Aliyah G., Boston Branch
- Bronze: Michael M., Mount Vernon Branch
- Dance: Traditional
- Gold: Jaylaa T., Las Vegas
- Silver: NaVaeh W., Baltimore City Branch
- Bronze: Mudiwa H., Washington, D.C. Branch
- Dramatic Arts: Acting
- Gold: Chaya C., Las Vegas
- Silver: Rhiauna S., San Antonio Branch
- Bronze: Kimara S., Jacksonville Branch
- Music: Instrumental Classical
- Gold: Donovan H., Montgomery County Branch
- Silver: Madasyn T., Lake County Illinois Branch
- Bronze: Tiffany T., Dupage County Branch
- Music: Instrumental Contemporary
- Gold: Tiffany T., Dupage County Branch
- Silver: McQuay M., Virginia Beach Branch
- Bronze: Daniel A., North San Diego County Branch
- Music: Vocal Classical
- Gold: Layla B., Washington, D.C. Branch
- Silver: Kenneth J., Fort Worth Tarrant County Branch
- Bronze: Samirah M., Philadelphia Branch
- Music: Vocal Contemporary
- Gold: Dajeun D., Akron Branch
- Silver: Sydney T., Fort Worth Tarrant County Branch
- Bronze: Myles C., New Brunswick Area Branch
- Oratory
- Gold: Mycal T., Champaign County Branch
- Silver: Jaelyn T., Fort Worth Tarrant County Branch
- Bronze: Camren L., Oakland-Imani Youth Council
- Poetry Performance
- Gold: Ryann D., DuPage County Branch
- Silver: Sharon A., Missouri City and Vicinity Branch
- Bronze: Amira K., New Orleans Branch
- Filmmaking
- Gold: Caleb W., Dupage County Branch
- Silver: Alexander M., Altadena Branch
- Bronze: Zyia W., San Antonio Branch
- Painting
- Gold: Ashir S., Scotland Youth Council
- Silver: Zarriah B., Carroll County Branch
- Bronze: Kameirah J., Seattle Branch
- Photography
- Gold: Alessandra H., Newark Branch
- Silver: Haillee L., Jacksonville Branch
- Bronze: Darius I., Westbury Branch
- Sculpture
- Gold: Simone B., Roanoke Branch
- Silver: Isabella N., Jacksonville Branch
- Bronze: Ashir S., Scotland Youth Council
- Entrepreneurship
- Gold: Taylor G., Albuquerque Branch
- Silver: Sascha R., Maricopa Youth Council
- Bronze: Marcus M., Mount Vernon Branch
- Culinary Arts
- Gold: Edymer M., Detroit Central Branch
- Silver: Lyanna J., New Orleans Branch
- Bronze: Derrick V., Newark Branch
- Hospitality Management
- Silver: Houston Branch
- Elisha F.
- Jiah B.
- Johnathan P.
- Razan A.
- Simone Z.
- Silver: Houston Branch
Get with the program
August: Local programs, hosted by NAACP units, kick-off annual ACT-SO activities.
September-March: Local programs conduct mentoring and scholastic enrichment activities.
April: Local programs host ACT-SO competitions. Gold medalists (those with scores between 95-100 in their category) are invited to compete on a national level.
April-July: Students continue their local mentorship and enrichment programs to prepare for the national competition.
July: Winners from the local competitions compete at the National Competition and Ceremonies, held every July in conjunction with the NAACP National Convention.
ACT-SO Impact
I can't think of any other program that has played a bigger part in preparing me for my future the way ACT-SO has.
- Taylor C. 2018-20 ACT-SO alumni, East St. Louis. Categories: Drawing, Entrepreneurship, Filmmaking and Original EssayAn enduring legacy of Black excellence
ACT-SO aims to:
Recognize creative talent and academic achievement in the next generation of leaders.
Provide and assist students with the necessary skills to establish goals and acquire the confidence and training to make a successful contribution to society.
Mobilize adults to promote academic and artistic excellence.
Frequently Asked Questions
All you need to know about the Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics program.
Get involved
ACT-SO takes a village. Local branches, volunteers, and sponsors ensure a fulfilling experience for young participants. Check with your local NAACP branch or contact us for more information to support ACT-SO.
Phone: (410) 580-5650
Email: actsodepartment@naacpnet.org
ACT-SO is synonymous with success. It is my sincerest hope that every ACT-SO participant takes risks in the safe, creative, and nurturing space ACT-SO provides. Chart your course. Share your story. Change the world.
- Larry Brown, Jr. National Director, NAACP ACT-SO