ACT-SO, the Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics is a major youth initiative of the NAACP.  Talented young people, from a wide array of diciplines took their place in history during the 30^th Anniversary of ACT-SO held at Disney World August 2008.  In its 30 year history, an estimated 261,000 young people have participated in ACT-SO events.  More than 700 national gold medalists have come from 28 states.  Over that time, more than $354,000 in national competition prizes - bonds, monetary awards, laptop computers, and scholarships - have been granted.

ACT-SO is a yearlong enrichment program designed to recruit, stimulate, improve and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African American high school students.  There are twenty-six categories of competition in the Sciences, Humanities, Performing Arts, Visual Arts and Entrepreneurship.  The gold medalist at the local level qualifies for the national finals held each year.

The students of the Greater Indianapolis NAACP branch participated in a yearlong enrichment program consisting of attending workshops, cultural events and community service.  The local gold medalist received medals and travel and hotel expenses paid to attend the National ACT-SO competition held in August 2008 at Walt Disney World.  The 2008 local ACT-SO program was funded by a grant from Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.

ACT-SO alumni occupy a wide array of careers including executive positions with corporations like Lockheed Martin and Citigroup-one serves a vocal coach for FOX television's "American Idol".  Famed ACT-SO alumni include Kanye West, actress Jada Pinkett-Smith, filmaker John Singleton and comedian Anthony Anderson.

Founded in 1978 by renowned author and journalist Vernon Jarrett, ACT-SO provides a forum through which African American youth demonstrate academic, artistic and scientific prowess and expertise, often gaining recognition rfeserved for entertainers and athletes.

Who is eligible to Participate? High School students of African American descent, who are citizens of the United States enrolled in grades 9-12 and are amateurs in the categories of competition.