ACT-SO Winners Headed to Los Angeles

Bolingbrook High School freshman Jordan Henderson, a budding filmmaker, was a spectator this past July when his brother, earned a national bronze medal in Business Entrepreneurship at the 2010 Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics competition in Kansas City.

Henderson's classmate Justin Hill, a sophomore who competed nationally in classical music, was also in the audience.

What the two BHS students shared was a desire to be summoned to the stage to be lauded for individual excellence.

After working for seven months, each has earned the opportunity to showcase their skills along with fellow classmate and dancer Malika Kelly at the 2011 ACT-SO competition, which will be held this summer in Los Angeles.

The ACT-SO program is a lifeline for students of color that has played a vital role in setting them on a trajectory for success. The local ACT-SO branch is jointly sponsored by the DuPage County Chapter of the NAACP and the College of DuPage.

The event was founded in 1978 by the late Chicago journalist Vernon Jarrett to recognize high school students in areas beyond singing and sports and was embraced by the NAACP as its major youth initiative, motivating countless students across the county to develop their minds and challenge perceived boundaries.

The ACT-SO program raises the performance bar for black teens as they are encouraged to explore their interests among 26 different categories encompassing sciences, humanities, performing and visual arts as well as business entrepreneurship.

ACT-SO empowers young people in two ways.

It extends monthly social and educational enrichment opportunities and further partners students with professionals who "mentor" them for the purpose of creating a project or performance.

And at the program’s conclusion, students are able to showcase their acquisition of knowledge and skills in competition against their peers. During the competition, judges and spectators alike gain a heightened appreciation of the intelligence, hard work and level of dedication that was committed to their individual project or performance.

This year nearly 100 students representing a wide range of high schools in Will, DuPage, Kendall and Kane Counties received gold medals in each of the 26 categories. It should be noted that simply competing in a category does not automatically guarantee a medal.

However, those earning the highest designation—a gold medal—also win a check for $100 in addition to having travel and lodging expenses paid to the national competition.

The payoff for winners at the national level includes numerous accolades as well as a $2,000 check for a gold medal, a $1,500 check for a silver medal and a $1,000 check for a bronze medal.

And if that is not prize enough, all medal winners also walk away with a laptop computer.

This year the DuPage County ACT-SO Branch awarded 16 gold medals. Last weekend Henderson, Hill and Kelly not only distinguished themselves, but their community by earning the judges' highest honor.

Henderson won in the area of visual arts, and Hill and Kelly were recognized in the performing arts area. 

"ACT-SO is like a key to life’s lock," Henderson said after winning. "If you use it correctly you may just unlock your potential for greatness."

Hill, an ACT-SO veteran who won a gold medal last year at the regional level, said she nearly forgot how much fun it was to compete.  

"You forget how much fun it is just to be a part of this competition, and how incredible it feels to have you’re named called for a medal," she said.

Although only a few students actually medal, each ACT-SO participant, by virtue of sticking with the program from start to finish, is deemed a winner.

Overall, successfully completing the seven-month program equips each participant with a wealth of knowledge that helps them confidently take that next step beyond high school.

To learn more about the program or how you might be able to help, call visit www.dupageact-so.org.