PROGRAMS
What is ACT-SO
The Academic, Cultural, Technological, and Scientific Olympics, or ACT-SO is a youth program under the auspices of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. ACT-SO is a year-round enrichment and educational outreach program with the goal of encouraging high academic and cultural achievement among underserved minority high school students. This program relies on community volunteers and business leaders to serve as mentors, judges, coaches, and sponsors to promote academic and artistic excellence.
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There are three components of the local Albuquerque ACT-SO Program. The first part focuses on individual talents in five areas: Science, Humanities, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, and Entrepreneurship. Students compete at the local level; then those eligible to advance compete on behalf of the local branch or youth organization at the national level for cash prizes, scholarships, internships, and to attend workshops to improve their skills.
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The second component involves enrichment activities. These activities vary from year to year, depending on availability of workshop leaders, high school and college liaisons, personal coaches in the areas of performing and visual arts, and facilities access.
The third component is tied to the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics or STEM initiative for students in grades K-12. The Albuquerque ACTSO STEM uses rocketry and other activities from the National Association of Physics Teachers to encourage students in the four elements of STEM for team and individual projects.
NATIONAL ACT-SO PROGRAM
Categories
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STEM
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Humanities
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Performing Arts
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Visual Arts
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Entrepreneurship
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Culinary Arts
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Hospitality Management
BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING IN ACT-SO
The ACT-SO program is intended to be a learning experience, first and foremost. The focus of a viable and effective local ACT-SO program is on enrichment and mentorship. Students work with mentors who help them develop projects throughout the year. Local ACT-SO programs also provide ACT-SO students with enrichment opportunities, such as workshops, tutorials, and field trips.
Benefits ACT-SO students receive from the enrichment and mentorship components include substantial assistance toward the development of their ACT-SO projects and valuable tools to assist them throughout their education.
The local competition serves to showcase the hard work students have put in all year long. Students receive medals and prizes provided by sponsors of and contributors to the local program. ACT-SO Students who receive gold medals on the local level receive cash awards and are eligible to compete at the National Competition which is held in a different state each year.