ACT-SO Advances Local Winners to National Competition at Awards Banquet 

     DuPage County ACT-SO program is excited to announce its annual high school local competition, taking place on Saturday, March 15, 2025. This year’s event promises to be thrilling as talented high school students from the area gather to showcase their skills and compete for top honors across 31 categories, including STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), Business, Humanities, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts. This free competition serves as part of a seven-month program that empowers high school students to celebrate their academic and cultural achievements, fostering a sense of pride comparable to that felt by their peers in athletics. Local gold medalists will advance to the National ACT-SO Competition, where they compete for monetary awards and prizes.

The anticipated competition will occur from 9 AM to 1 PM on the campus of Lewis University, located at 1 University Pkwy, Romeoville, IL 60446. After the conclusion of the competition, attendees can view student projects in STEM and Visual Arts on display. 

The DuPage County ACT-SO Awards Banquet honoring the participants will be held on Sunday, March 16, at 1:00 PM until 4:30 PM at the Bolingbrook Golf Club, 2001 Rodeo Dr., Bolingbrook, Illinois. Doors will open at 12:30 PM for seating and project viewing. Tickets for the Awards Banquet can be purchased at: www.dupageact-so.org. 

As the cornerstone of the youth division of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), ACT-SO serves as an “Olympics” of sorts, designed to highlight the academic and artistic talents of African American high school students. The DuPage County ACT-SO Program provides a platform for these students to develop their skills and gain recognition, culminating in the National NAACP ACT-SO competition which will be held this year in Charlotte, NC. 

DuPage County ACT-SO, an Illinois branch of the NAACP, prepares students for the national competition through a comprehensive 7-month enrichment program, which includes professional mentoring, college and career readiness, and competition preparation. The program’s primary goals are to promote high academic achievement and cultural awareness among African American high school students while cultivating the next generation of leaders. The DuPage County ACT-SO program serves students from DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Will, and parts of Cook County.

The National ACT-SO program has positively impacted nearly 300,000 young people across more than 200 communities nationwide, offering mentorship in various fields. Since its inception 46 years ago, ACT-SO has helped shape the career paths of many African American students. Notable alumni include Angela Rye, Anthony Anderson, Kanye West, Leslie Odom Jr., Michelle Williams, Alicia Keys, Lauryn Hill, and Jada Pinkett-Smith.

For further information about DuPage County ACT-SO program, the local competition sponsorship and volunteer opportunities log on to 

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DuPage County ACT-SO: Business, Arts, and STEM Excellence (B.A.S.E.) is the 501(c)(3) organization that supports the DuPage County ACT-SO program. DuPage County ACT-SO was founded in 1979 by Earnest and Carolyn Gibson, both of whom served as Presidents of the DuPage County Branch of the NAACP. The 7-month enrichment program features leadership development sessions, one-on-one mentorship, and service activities, culminating in an academic competition and Awards Banquet in March. Local gold medalists then compete in the National ACT-SO Competition held during the NAACP’s Annual Convention in July.