Competition

April 25 - 27, 2025

Complete this form to receive information about the 2025 ACT-SO Competition.

The NAACP’s Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) is a yearlong achievement program designed to recruit, stimulate, and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African American high school students. ACT-SO includes 33 competitions in STEM, Humanities, Business, and Performing, Visual and Culinary Arts. Almost 300,000 young people have participated in the program since its inception. For over forty years the mission of ACT-SO has been to prepare, recognize and reward youth of African descent who exemplify scholastic and artistic excellence.

Medals & Prizes

Competition is open to all Metro-Detroit High School students.

Students are competing for medals, cash prizes and the opportunity to advance to the National NAACP ACT-SO Competition.

 

Gold Medal

Advancement to National NAACP ACT-SO Competition with all expenses covered

 

Silver Medal

 

Bronze Medal

 

NAACP Detroit Branch
& NAACP Detroit Youth Council Key Dates:

 

Interested in competing in the NAACP Detroit Branch and NAACP Detroit Youth Council ACT-SO Competition? Please follow these 3 steps!

  1. Review the 2025 Categories and Competitions information below.

  2. Download and complete the application. Students may compete in up to three (3) categories.

  3. All interested competitors must complete the Statement of Integrity and return it with your application.

  4. If you are competing in any of the following categories please take note:

    • BUSINESS
      You must submit the business plan with your application.

    • HUMANITIES
      You must submit your music composition, original essay, play, poem, short story with your application.

    • PERFORMING ARTS - Poetry Performance Only
      You must submit your poem with your application

    • STEM
      You must submit your science paper and Science Verification Writ with your application.

Application Deadline is April 16, 2025

 

Submit the completed application in one of the following ways:

  • Via email: actso@detroitnaacp.org

  • Via fax: (313) 871-7745

  • Via mail:
    NAACP Detroit Branch
    Attn: ACT-SO
    8220 2nd Avenue
    Detroit, MI 48202

2025 Categories
and Competitions

Students may compete in up to 3 competitions, except those competing in Culinary and Hospitality. 

FAQ’s

Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony, President
Ms. Kamilia Landrum, Executive Director
LaToya Henry, Program Chair, ACT-SO

NAACP Detroit Branch and NAACP Detroit Youth Council ACT-SO Program Sponsored By: