Long Beach Branch NAACP

Transcription

1 Long Beach Branch NAACP Proudly presents ACT-SO Application Packet Please all missing documents as soon as possible to: Congratulations Long Beach ACT-SO competitor. You are receiving this because you were selected to advance to the National ACT-SO Competition to be held in Baltimore, Maryland from July 20 th July 24 th. As we prepare for the National Competition, I am in the process of ensuring that all necessary paperwork is completed and submitted on time. Please review the included checklist to be sure all documents have been completed and submitted. Please submit all missing documents on or before April 18, For more information on how you can get involved in this youth service program please contact Dr. Charles D. Smith at (562) or the branch at mnaacp@gmail.com or cdsmith922@yahoo.com.

2 ACT-SO FACT SHEET WHAT IS ACT-SO? ACT-SO is an acronym for Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics. ACT-SO is a yearlong enrichment program designed to recruit, stimulate, improve and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African-American high school students. The ACT-SO program is centered on the dedication and commitment of community volunteers and business leaders; to serve as mentors and coaches to promote academic and artistic excellence among African-American students. There are 25 categories of competition in the sciences, humanities, performing and visual arts. WHO SPONSORS ACT-SO? ACT-SO is sponsored by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which is the nation s oldest and largest civil rights organization. ACT-SO receives support from schools, community, organizations, churches, foundations, private corporations and individuals WHO FOUNDED ACT-SO? Vernon Jarrett, a renowned author and journalist, initiated the idea of an "Olympics of the Mind" that would promote and reward academic achievers the same way sports heroes are honored. The first national ACT-SO competition was held in 1978 in Portland, Oregon. WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE? African-American high school students, who are citizens of the United States, enrolled in grades 9 through 12 and are amateurs in the categories of competition. Students must compete in a local ACT-SO program to qualify for the National ACT-SO competition. WHAT ARE THE 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 ACT-SO 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. The 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 the local and regional sponsors and contributors. ACT-SO Students who receive gold medals on the local level then compete at the National Competition where they receive scholarships and other rewards provided by national sponsors. WHEN DOES THE ACT-SO PROGRAM BEGIN?

3 ACT-SO is a year-long enrichment program that begins with mentoring, coaching and teaching. Local competitions usually take place between March and May. Contestants who win gold medals on the local level qualify to attend the National ACT-SO competition, which takes place in early July at the Annual NAACP Convention. Long Beach Branch ACT-SO TIMELINE Local Program January 2017 Site Coordinators Training Session January February 2017 Recruit Students & School Visitations February 2017 February 28, 2017 January - March 2017 March 2017 April 22, 2017 May 2017 May - July 2017 National Competition Orientation Meeting at Stevenson Elementary School Application Deadline Prepare for Local Competition Student Training Workshop Local Competition Mary Butler School (562) Local Competition Award Ceremony Fine tune details for the National Competitions July 20-24, th NAACP National ACT-SO Competition Baltimore, Maryland

4 Applicant Rules and Regulations ELIGIBILITY Each contestant must: Be of enrolled in grades 9-12 Be a citizen or a legal resident of the United States Be an amateur (having not received wages for professional services) in any category of competitions Following Documents are DUE No Later Than, April 18; however, application needed asap 1. A contestant may enter up to three (3) categories. Each contestant must submit one project per category. 2. Each contestant must conform to the space requirements as dictated by each category. 3. All Contestants must submit to their local NAACP ACT-SO the following items: a. A typed national application (with SS#) b. A current course registration document from their school c. A parent consent form d. A medical treatment & release form e. A 3x5 electronic photograph f. A verification form for science categories only (Selected Categories) g. Three copies of student s science or humanities entries (Selected Categories) h. Applicant Biography (written in 3 rd Person) i. Student Code of Conduct j. Contract and Release of Media NOTE: These items will be forwarded to the National ACT-SO office by the Long Beach Branch Chairperson, no later than Sunday, May 1, Local

5 Competition winners DO NOT submit any documents to the National Office. The Chairperson will do this. Patent and Copyright Information ACT-SO participants may want to consider applying for a patent or copyright to protect their work (ie. science, humanities). You may contact the Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Patent Office, at (800) for Patent information or the Library of Congress at (202) for copyright information.