Nine Charles County Students Head to National ACT-SO Event

David M. Higgins II, Publisher/Editor

June 6

Nine students from Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) are set to compete in the national ACT-SO competition this July. This follows their successful performances at a regional event held in April. The ACT-SO (Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics) program, organized by the NAACP, aims to promote academic and cultural excellence among high school students of African American descent.

Students Heading to Nationals

The students advancing to the national event are:

Kamarie Barnes, a freshman at North Point High School, competing in the poetry performance category.
Niya Cox, a senior at Westlake High School, competing in the drawing category.
Isaiah DeLeonard, a junior at La Plata High School, competing in the music composition category.
Shaniyah Hall, a junior at North Point High School, competing in both the original essay and written poetry categories.
Jonathan Haralson, a senior at North Point High School, competing in the engineering category.
Olivia Haralson, a freshman at North Point High School, competing in the dance category (contemporary and modern).
Mohamed Keita, a senior at North Point High School, competing in the medicine and health and oratory categories.
Haili Powell, a senior at North Point High School, competing in the vocal music contemporary category.
Cynclair Wilson, a sophomore at Maurice J. McDonough High School, competing in the painting category.

These students will attend the national competition from July 11-14 in Las Vegas, as part of the 2024 NAACP National Convention. In preparation, they will participate in local mentorships and enrichment programs.

Local Competition and ACT-SO Overview

The Charles County branch of the NAACP hosted the local competition in April. The ACT-SO program encompasses over 30 fields of competition, ranging from performing and culinary arts to STEM. It provides high school students the opportunity to showcase their talents in up to three areas. Participants must be U.S. citizens and amateurs.

ACT-SO is designed to recruit, stimulate, and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among Black high school students. It is a yearlong program that culminates in a national competition held annually in conjunction with the NAACP National Convention.

For more information about the ACT-SO program, visit Charles County NAACP ACT-SO.