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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:
- To mobilize
the adult community for the promotion of academic and artistic
excellence among African American students.
- To recognize
academic achievement among African American students . . .
- To provide
and assist African American students with the necessary skills
and tools to establish goals and acquire the confidence and
training to make a successful contribution to society
During the
first week of May, the Montgomery County NAACP Branch conducts 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. |
