NAACP Modesto/Stanislaus Branch 1048

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

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ACT-SO
History

WHAT IS ACT-SO?

ACT-SO is an acronym for


Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics.


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.  The ACT-SO program centers on the dedication and commitment of community volunteers and business leaders to serve as mentors and coaches to promote academic and artistic excellence among African-American students.  There are 25 categories of competition in the sciences, humanities, performing and visual arts.

ACT-SO conducts annual academic competition for students in grades nine (9) through twelve (12) in the NAACP branches throughout the country.  The current procedure is for participating branches of the NAACP to hold local competitions.  The local Gold Medal winners then compete with the winners from other cities at the national ACT-SO finals during the NAACP annual convention.

Rooted in the firm conviction that blacks can succeed in the classroom at the superior levels of achievement constantly displayed by blacks in the athletic arenas of this nation, the ACT-SO program also strives to create the same respect and global awareness for black scholastic and cultural achievement that is awarded athletics in the world of sports.




FAMOUS ACT-SO ALUMN
I

Since ACT-SO's inception, more than 260,000 students have benefited from the program.  Here are a few of ACT-SO's national alumni stars.

Anthony Anderson            Actor/Comedian

John Singleton                  Filmmaker

Michael Beard                   Actor

Kanye West                      Rapper

Jada Pinkett-Smith             Actress

Roy Hargrove                     Jazz Musician



WHO SPONSORS ACT-SO?

ACT-SO is sponsored by the National Association for Colored People (NAACP), the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization; ACT-SO receives support from schools, community organizations, churches, foundations, private corporations and individuals.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE?

High school students of African descent, who are citizens of the United States, are enrolled in grades 9-12, and are amateurs in the categories of competition, are able to participate.

WHAT IS THE GOAL OF ACT-SO?

The goal of ACT-SO is to encourage and reward the achievement of academic excellence in the Sciences, Arts, and Humanities through a variety of formats, rewards and incentives.

In addition, various corporations make additional scholarship awards to winners.  Locally, hundreds of business and individual patrons provide the awards, incentives and funding to sustain the local competition.  Many professionals work weekly on a one-to-one basis with competitors in the various categories.

Today's technologically advanced society makes demands upon our youth, academically and financially.  The ACT-SO program provides an excellent motivational support base and catalyst for career advancement.  While rewarding hard work, competence and creative genius with open doors to greater success, deserving minority students are afforded the opportunity to compete in the complex and other inequitable global area.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING IN ACT-SO?

The ACT-SO program is intended to be a learning experience, first and foremost.  The focus of a viable and effective local ACT-SO program is on enrichment and mentorship.  Students work with ACT-SO mentors who help them develop projects throughout the year.  Local

ACT-SO programs also provide ACT-SO students with enrichment opportunities, such as workshops, tutorials, and field trips.

The local competition serves to highlight the hard work students have put in all year long.  Students receive medals and prizes provided by the local and regional sponsors and contributors.  ACT-SO Students who receive gold medals on the local level then compete at the National Competition where they receive scholarships and other rewards provided by national sponsors.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING IN ACT-SO?

The ACT-SO program is intended to be a learning experience, first and foremost.  The focus of a viable and effective local ACT-SO program is on enrichment and mentorship.  Students work with ACT-SO mentors who help them develop projects throughout the year.  Local

ACT-SO programs also provide ACT-SO students with enrichment opportunities, such as workshops, tutorials, and field trips.

The local competition serves to highlight the hard work students have put in all year long.  Students receive medals and prizes provided by the local and regional sponsors and contributors.  ACT-SO Students who receive gold medals on the local level then compete at the National Competition where they receive scholarships and other rewards provided by national sponsors.