ACT-SO is an acronym for Afro- Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics. ACT-SO, the "Olympics of the Mind," is a nation-wide program sponsored by the NAACP that encourages high academic and cultural achievement among African-American high school students.
The yearlong local program features leadership development sessions, mentoring, college readiness and service activities. The DuPage County ACT-SO program culminates with an academic competition and Awards Banquet in March where students present projects and performances developed under the guidance of mentors. There are 32 categories of competition in the Sciences, Humanities, Business, Performing and Visual Arts. The local gold medalists then compete against winners from other cities at the National ACT-SO finals held in July.