Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics
Encyclopedia
The Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) is a youth program of the NAACP
that is “designed to recruit, stimulate, improve and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African American
high school students.” The year-long program recognizes and awards young people who have demonstrated academic and cultural achievement. Gold, silver, and bronze medals, along with cash awards, are awarded to winners in each of 25 categories. The program is informally named the “Olympics of the mind.”
. The program was intended to provide recognition to young people who could demonstrate academic, scientific, and artistic achievement, allowing young people to gain recognition equal to that often achieved by entertainers and athletes.
Since its founding, more than 260,000 young people have participated in the program’s events, and more than 700 gold medals have been awarded to youths around the United States. Over $350,000 has been granted in monetary awards, scholarships, and laptop computers.
, Shell Oil
, and others.
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, usually abbreviated as NAACP, is an African-American civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909. Its mission is "to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to...
that is “designed to recruit, stimulate, improve and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
high school students.” The year-long program recognizes and awards young people who have demonstrated academic and cultural achievement. Gold, silver, and bronze medals, along with cash awards, are awarded to winners in each of 25 categories. The program is informally named the “Olympics of the mind.”
History
ACT-SO was founded in 1978 by author and journalist Vernon JarrettVernon Jarrett
Vernon Jarrett was an African American journalist who worked in newspaper, television and radio and was an influential commentator on race relations, politics, and African American history....
. The program was intended to provide recognition to young people who could demonstrate academic, scientific, and artistic achievement, allowing young people to gain recognition equal to that often achieved by entertainers and athletes.
Since its founding, more than 260,000 young people have participated in the program’s events, and more than 700 gold medals have been awarded to youths around the United States. Over $350,000 has been granted in monetary awards, scholarships, and laptop computers.
Goals
According to the NAACP, the program’s goals are:- To mobilize the adult community for the promotion of classroom and after-school excellence
- To recognize academic achievement among youth on par with the recognition awarded athletics
- To provide and assist students with the necessary skills and tools to establish goals and acquire the confidence and training to make a successful contribution to society
Program
Annual academic competitions are conducted for students in grades 9–12 at NAACP branches around the United States. Winners of the competition at each local branch are eligible for awards at the finals during the NAACP national convention. The 2008 national competition was held at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.Funding
The ACT-SO program has many corporate sponsorships from major American corporations, including McDonalds, United Parcel ServiceUnited Parcel Service
United Parcel Service, Inc. , typically referred to by the acronym UPS, is a package delivery company. Headquartered in Sandy Springs, Georgia, United States, UPS delivers more than 15 million packages a day to 6.1 million customers in more than 220 countries and territories around the...
, Shell Oil
Shell Oil Company
Shell Oil Company is the United States-based subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell, a multinational oil company of Anglo Dutch origins, which is amongst the largest oil companies in the world. Approximately 22,000 Shell employees are based in the U.S. The head office in the U.S. is in Houston, Texas...
, and others.
Award categories
- Sciences
- Biology/microbiology
- Chemistry/biochemistry
- Computer science
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Earth and space sciences
- Engineering
- Medicine and health
- Performing arts
- Dance
- Dramatics
- Music: Instrumental/Classical
- Music: Instrumental/Contemporary
- Music: Vocal/Classical
- Music: Vocal/Contemporary
- Oratory
- Humanities
- Music composition
- Original Essay
- Playwriting
- Poetry
- Visual arts
- Architecture
- Drawing
- Filmmaking
- Painting
- Sculpture
- Entrepreneurship
Notable award recipients
- Kanye WestKanye WestKanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
- Jada Pinkett-Smith
- John Singleton
- Anthony AndersonAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson is an American actor, comedian, and writer. He has starred in his own sitcom All About the Andersons, as well as the Fox sitcom The Bernie Mac Show during the fifth and final season of the show. He is also known for his leading roles in television dramas such as K-Ville, The...
- Adam DavenportAdam DavenportAdam Davenport is an American film director, screenwriter and stage director.-Author:At 15, Davenport wote a short story titled Home which was published in the anthology Looking Inward, for which he was presented with an Award of Achievement by former President George Bush, Sr. in 1999...