Murfreesboro NAACP Celebrates Youth Excellence at 2026 ACT-SO Competition

On April 25, 2026, the Murfreesboro Branch of the NAACP proudly hosted its 2026 ACT-SO competition, spotlighting the extraordinary talents of our local high school students. Young competitors showcased their gifts across four categories — painting, short story, poetry, and entrepreneurship — and every single participant earned a Bronze medal. We could not be prouder of each of them.

The Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological, and Scientific Olympics (better known as ACT-SO) is a year-round achievement program designed to recruit, stimulate, and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African American high school students. Founded in 1978 by author and journalist Vernon Jarrett, the program was created to give young people recognition for academic, scientific, and artistic achievement equal to that often given to entertainers and athletes.

The core mission of ACT-SO is to prepare, recognize, and reward young people of color who exemplify scholastic and artistic excellence, helping students build self-esteem, master demanding skills, and develop the discipline needed to succeed in college and beyond. Each year, the journey culminates in local competitions in April, where Gold Medal winners earn the opportunity to advance to the National ACT-SO Competition held during the NAACP National Convention in July.

The Murfreesboro NAACP congratulates all of our 2026 competitors. Your talent, dedication, and courage inspire our entire community. We can't wait to see what you do next!