ACT-SO is an acronym for Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics. Its mission is to recognize, prepare, and reward African-American youth who exemplify scholastic and artistic excellence.
ACT-SO is a yearlong enrichment program for high school students of African descent which culminates in a competition through which youth demonstrate prowess in science, humanities, performing and visual arts, and entrepreneurship.
ACT-SO was founded in 1978 by the renowned journalist, Vernon Jarrett, and was adopted by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) as a major youth initiative.
ACT-SO is rooted in the firm conviction that African-Americans can succeed and compete at the same or superior levels as their counterparts in classrooms, boardrooms and laboratories across this nation and abroad.
ACT-SO depends on the dedication and commitment of parents, teachers, community volunteers, and business leaders who serve as coaches, judges, and sources of other support for the students’ growth and achievement.