YJCW NAACP Branch 7128 | York-James City-Williamsburg

YJCW NAACP Program

Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics

ACT-SO encourages and celebrates high academic and cultural achievement among African-American high school students.

20+

Competition Categories

500+

Students Served

15+

Years of Excellence

50+

Awards Won

Our purpose

Excellence in academic and cultural achievement.

ACT-SO conducts annual academic competitions for students in grades 9–12 through NAACP branches across the country, following National Office guidelines and oversight.

The program gives African-American scholastic and cultural achievement the same recognition and respect afforded to athletic heroes, inspiring young people toward excellence while connecting them to community support.

How it works

A program built to help students thrive.

ACT-SO creates space for students to develop, compete, and be recognized for their talents.

01
Recruit, stimulate, improve, and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African-American high school students.
02
Provide maximum community support for youth excellence.
03
Recognize and celebrate academic and cultural achievement.
04
Create pathways to higher education and career opportunities.

Interest areas

32 ways to explore your talents.

Open a category to discover the ACT-SO competition areas available to students.

Architecture

The science, art, or profession of designing buildings or outdoor spaces.

Biology/Microbiology

The science of life or of the origin, structure, reproduction, growth, and development of living organisms collectively.

Chemistry/Biochemistry

The science that deals with the composition, structure, and properties of chemical processes and phenomena of substances, and the transformation that they undergo.

Artificial Intelligence & Computer Science

The science that deals with the theoretical aspects of computers including storage and the transformation of data using computers.

Earth and Space Sciences

The body of sciences that include geology, mineralogy, physiography, oceanography, meteorology, climatology, astronomy, speleology, seismology, geography, and more.

Engineering

Projects that directly apply scientific principles to manufacturing and practical uses.

Mathematics

The science of numbers and their operations, interrelations, combinations, generalizations, and abstractions of spaced configurations and their structure. Development of formal logical systems or various numerical and algebraic computations and the application of these principles.

Medicine and Health

The study of diseases and health of humans and animals.

Physics

Theories, principles, and laws governing energy and the effect of energy on matter.

Dance - Ballet

A series of rhythmic and highly technical patterned bodily movements usually performed to music using grace and precision.

Dance - Contemporary

A series of rhythmic and technical patterned bodily movements usually performed to music.

Dance - Modern

A series of rhythmic and patterned bodily movements usually performed to music that focuses on the dancer's interpretations using their emotions and moods to develop choreography.

Dance - Cultural

A series of rhythmic and patterned bodily movements usually performed to music to reflect the life of the people of a certain region or country.

Dramatic Arts - Acting

The art of staging or acting plays.

Music Instrumental - Classical

The art of performing with a device used to produce music with tones of the late 18th and 19th centuries characterized by an emphasis on balance, clarity, and moderation.

Music Instrumental - Contemporary

The art of performing with a device used to produce music with the tones of the present.

Music Vocal - Classical

The art of performing with the human voice rhythmic tones or sounds of the late 18th and 19th centuries characterized by an emphasis on balance, clarity, and moderation.

Music Vocal - Contemporary

The art of performing with the human voice rhythmic tones or sounds to produce music with the tones of the present.

Oratory

The art of speaking in public eloquently and effectively. This is not a dramatic presentation.

Spoken Word

An original poem or prose performed as a monologue or exchange involving extemporization.

Music Composition

The science or art of arranging music by ordering tones or sounds in succession, in combination or in temporal relationships to produce a composition having unity and continuity.

Original Essay

A brief examination of a subject in prose usually expressing a personal view or interpretation of a subject or topic.

Playwriting

A literary composition developed for the stage.

Poetry - Written

An original poem or prose performed as a monologue or exchange involving extemporization.

Short Story

A brief examination of a subject in prose usually expressing a personal view or interpretation of a subject or topic.

Drawing

The art of representing forms and figures on a surface by means of lines.

Filmmaking

The art and process of making motion pictures.

Painting

The art of laying on paints with a brush or a knife.

Photography

The process, art, and technique of taking images recorded by a camera and reproducing them on a photosensitive surface.

Sculpture

The art of making three-dimensional figures or designs.

Entrepreneurship

Owning, organizing, and managing your own business by providing a necessary product or service.

Culinary Arts

The creative practice of cooking.

Our champions

Celebrating excellence.

Meet ACT-SO participants who have achieved remarkable success at the regional and national levels.

ACT-SO Winner

Karston Gonzales

Violin, Instrumental Classical

ACT-SO competition winner in Violin, Instrumental Classical.

Watch performance