About ACT-SO
Meet Vernon Jarrett
1976: Vernon Jarrett presented his concept for ACT-SO an “Olympics of the Mind” to the DuSable Museum of African American History.
1977: The NAACP Board of Directors adopted a resolution to accept ACT- SO as an official sponsored NAACP youth achievement program that would be sponsored by local NAACP units, conduct an annual local competition and bring a contingency of gold medalists to the annual National ACT-SO Competition.
1978: The first National ACT-SO competition was held in Portland, Oregon with seven cities participating: Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New Orleans and St. Louis.
2004: Mr. Vernon Jarrett, ACT-SO founder, lost his battle with cancer at the age of 82.
Present: ACT-SO sustains approximately 200 programs nationally. Over the past 42 (forty two) years, over 250,000 students have participated in the program.
NAACP ACT-SO continues to promote growth, excellence and innovation to position ACT-SO competitors as “Leaders For Tomorrow and Beyond.”
Benefits of participating in ACT-SO?
Over the course of each year students work with local volunteer instructors and mentors to develop projects and participate in enrichment opportunities including:
Workshops
Tutorials / Master Classes
Field Trips
The local ACT-SO competition winners receive medals
The local Gold Medalists advance to the national competition and with the opportunity to receive cash scholarships and other rewards provided by national sponsors
Local & National Scholarship Opportunities available for all participants
Exposure