The Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) is a major youth initiative of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Founded in 1978, by the renowned author and journalist, Vernon Jarrett, ACT-SO provides a forum through which African American youth demonstrate academic, artistic and scientific prowess and expertise.

ACT-SO "The Olympic of the Mind," is rooted in the firm conviction that African-Americans can succeed and compete at the same or superior level as their counterparts in classrooms, boardrooms and laboratories across this nation and abroad. The objective of ACT-SO is to prepare, recognize and reward African-American youth who exemplify scholastic and artistic excellence. The ACT-SO goals are:

1. To mobilize the adult community for the promotion of academic and artistic excellence among African American students.
2. To recognize academic achievement among African American students . . .
3. To provide and assist African American students with the necessary skills and tools to establish
4. goals and acquire the confidence and training to make a successful contribution to society

On April 13th, the Montgomery County NAACP Branch will conduct an annual competition for African American students in grades 9-12 within the county. The local competition winners then compete against winners from other cities at the national ACT-SO finals held during the NAACP's Annual Convention in July.