ACT-SO New Jersey
What is ACT-SO?
What is ACT-SO
ACT-SO, a major program of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), is an acronym that stands for Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics.
ACT-SO, often referred to as the “Olympics of the Mind”, seeks to promote the following among high school students:
- Positive self-esteem
- Positive interaction between our youth and the adult professional community
- Positive academic and artistic excellence
- High academic and cultural achievement
Students who participate in ACT-SO, can compete with other students in up to 3 of 33 categories which includes STEM, Business, Humanities, Performing, Visual & Culinary Arts. The local competition serves to showcase the hard work students have put in all year long. ACT-SO Students who receive gold medals on at the local competition qualify to compete at the National Competition where they can receive scholarships awards and prizes provided by national sponsors.
Pictures by
Jeffrey Gamble, ACT-SO alumnus, and Gerald Peart, NYC ACT-SO Photography Coach
ACT-SO Goals
The mission of ACT-SO is to prepare, recognize and reward all participating 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 high school youth.
- To recognize academic and artistic talent achievements among these students.
- To provide and assist students with the necessary skills to establish goals, develop confidence and strive to pursue excellence in their field of interest(s) to ultimately become successful contributors to society.
The ACT-SO program is a learning experience, first and foremost. The focus of a viable and effective local ACT-SO program is on enrichment and mentorship. Students work with ACT-SO mentors who help them develop projects throughout the year. Local ACT-SO programs also provide ACT-SO students with enrichment opportunities, such as workshops, tutorials, and field trips.
The benefits ACT-SO students receive from the enrichment and mentorship components include substantial assistance toward the development of their ACT-SO projects and valuable tools to assist them throughout their education



