Producer: Central City Productions,
Inc. in conjunction with the Chicago NAACP
Station: WGN-TV Channel 9 (Superstation)
Air Date & Time:
June 15, 2002 @ 12 Noon
(Immediately following "Soul Train")
Host: From POWER 92 The
Choklitjox -Trey and Naki and Courtney Hicks
Taping: May 28th and 29th , 2002
(DuSable Museum of African American History)
Click Here For Promotional Video Click
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Production
An annual awards program known as "The Olympics of the Mind,"
ACT-SO is an acronym for the Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological, and Scientific Olympics.
Description
The program, created in 1977 for the NAACP by Chicago Sun-Times columnist Vernon Jarrett, was
established to inspire and encourage African-American high school students toward excellence in
academic and cultural pursuits. The participants demonstrate their skills in four competition
areas: Humanities, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, and the Sciences.
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Afro Academic, Cultural, Technological, and Scientific Olympics
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ACT-SO awards celebrating 23 years
of giving more than $250 million
to more than 20,000 students
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ACT-SO, above all, is a learning experience in which scholarships and prizes are awarded. At the national level, gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded in addition to cash scholarships of $1,000, $750 and $500 in each category. Local winners are awarded certificates and other prizes.
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ACT-SO awards founder is
noted author, journalist
and broadcaster
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Vernon Jarrett, a renowned author and journalist, initiated the idea of an "Olympics of the Mind" that would promote and reward academic achievers in the same way sports heroes are honored. The first national ACT-SO competition was held in 1978 in Portland, Oregon.
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ACT-SO awards: a major
program of the NAACP
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ACT-SO is is sponsored by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. ACT-SO receives support from schools, community organizations, churches, foundations, private corporations and individuals.
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ACT-SO: an acronym for
Afro-academic, Cultural,
Technological and Scientific Olympics
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ACT-SO is an enrichment program designed to recruit, stimulate, improve and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African-American high school students. The ACT-SO program centers around the dedication and commitment of community volunteers and business leaders to serve as mentors and coaches to promote academic and artistic excellence among African-American students. There are 24 categories of competition in the sciences, humanities, performing arts and visual arts.
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ACT-SO awards: a year-long program
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ACT-SO is a year-long program that begins with mentoring, coaching and teaching. Local competitions usually take place between March and May. Contestants who win gold medals on the local level qualify to attend the national ACT-SO competition, which takes place in early July at the annual NAACP Convention.
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ACT-SO: one of the largest competitions
in the united states
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ACT-SO is one of the largest competitions of its kind impacting African-American students across the United States. ACT-SO encourages high academic and cultural achievement. Youth from every part of the country are honored, in a climate of excellence, before a live audience. In keeping with the spirit of the Olympics, the winners are awarded gold, silver and bronze medals, in addition to their monetary gifts.
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ACT-SO: goals and objectives
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ACT-SO seeks to make heroes and heroines out of our dedicated, talented and positive young scholars, artists and scientists who are often ignored and rarely portrayed in the media. The goal of this program is to encourage young people, stimulate their academic and cultural development, foster their self-confidence and promote high self-esteem.
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ACT-SO Fact Sheet
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WHAT IS ACT-SO?
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ACT-SO is an acronym for Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics. ACT-SO is a year long enrichment program designed to recruit, stimulate, improve and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African-American high school students. The ACT-SO program centers around the dedication and commitment of community volunteers and business leaders to serve as mentors and coaches to promote academic and artistic excellence among African-American students. There are 24 categories of competition in the sciences, humanities, and performing and visual arts.
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WHO SPONSORS ACT-SO?
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ACT-SO is sponsored by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. ACT-SO receives support from schools, community organizations, churches, foundations, private corporations, and individuals.
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WHO FOUNDED ACT-SO?
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Vernon Jarrett, a renowned author and journalist, initiated the idea of an "Olympics of the Mind" that would promote and reward academic achievers the same way sports heroes are honored. The first NATIONAL ACT-SO COMPETITION was held in 1978 in Portland, Oregon.
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WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE?
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African-American high school students who are citizens of the United States, enrolled in grades 9 through 12 and are amateurs in the categories of competition. Students must compete in a local ACT-SO program to qualify for the NATIONAL ACT-SO COMPETITION.
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WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING IN ACT-SO?
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ACT-SO, above all, is a learning experience, in which scholarships and prizes are awarded. At the national level, gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded along with cash scholarships of $1,000, $750 and $500 in each category, in addition to many other awards, scholarships and prizes. Local winners are awarded certificates and many other prizes. Participants develop new skill and enhance their ability with each ACT-SO pursuit.
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WHAT ARE THE CATEGORIES OF COMPETITION?
*Students may compete in up to three (3) categories.
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THE SCIENCES
Architecture
Biology
Chemistry
Computer Science
Mathematics
Physics/Electronics
Physics/Energy
Physics/General
THE HUMANITIES
Music Composition
Original Essay
Playwriting
Poetry
THE PERFORMING ARTS
Dance
Dramatics
Music Instrumental/Classical
Music Instrumental/Contemporary
Music Vocal/Classical
Music Vocal/Contemporary
Oratory
VISUAL ARTS
Drawing
Painting
Photography
Sculpture
Filmmaking/Video
BUSINESS
*Entrepreneur
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WHEN DOES THE ACT-SO PROGRAM BEGIN?
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ACT-SO is a year-long enrichment program that begins with mentoring, coaching, and teaching. Local competitions usually take place between March and May. Contestants who win gold medals on the local level qualify to attend the "NATIONAL ACT-SO COMPETITION", which takes place in early July at the "Annual NAACP Convention".
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HOW CAN A STUDENT APPLY AND GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION?
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Contact your local NAACP Branch Office for information regarding applications for the program. If your Branch does not have an operating "ACT-SO" program contact the "NATIONAL ACT-SO" Office at the address below or visit our website at
www.naacp.org, for the program closest to you.
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