Coraopolis Branch 26AB-B
The Coraopolis NAACP ACT-SO program 2025 - 2026
Tentative date: Saturday March 28, 2026 at 10:00am
Robert Morris University - Wheatley Center
What is ACT-SO?
ACT-SO is an acronym for Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics. ACT-SO is a yearlong youth achievement enrichment program designed to recruit, stimulate, improve, and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among high school students of African descent.
The ACT-SO program centers on community volunteers' and business leaders' dedication and commitment to serve as mentors and coaches to promote academic and artistic excellence. There are 33 competition categories in the sciences, humanities, performing arts, visual arts, culinary arts, and business.
Mission
The mission of ACT-SO is to prepare, recognize, and reward youth of African descent who exemplify academic and artistic excellence.
The goals of ACT-SO
ACT-SO goals are:
● To mobilize the adult community to promote academic and artistic excellence among students of African descent.
● To recognize academic and artistic achievement among students of African descent.
● To provide and assist students with the necessary skills to establish goals and acquire the confidence and training to contribute to society.
Eligibility
High school students who are citizens of the United States, enrolled in grades 9-12, and are amateurs in the categories of competition are able to participate. Participation is not exclusive to students of African descent as the program accepts support that prohibits exclusive participation.
Benefits
First and foremost, the ACT-SO program is intended to be a learning experience. A viable and effective local ACT-SO program focuses on enrichment and mentorship. Students work with ACT-SO mentors who help them develop projects throughout the year online and in person. Local ACT-SO programs provide students with enrichment opportunities, such as workshops, tutorials, and field trips.
The benefits ACT-SO Olympians receive from the enrichment and mentorship components include substantial assistance in developing their ACT-SO projects and valuable tools to assist them throughout their education.
Each ACT-SO program conducts a local competition. The local competition showcases the hard work students have put in all year. Students receive medals and prizes from local and regional sponsors and contributors. ACT-SO Olympians who receive gold medals on the local level then compete at the national competition, where they receive scholarships and other rewards from national sponsors.