ACT-SO is an acronym for the Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics that provides career exploration in 26 different subject areas encompassed by the sciences, humanities, business and the arts. It is the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's (NAACP's) principle youth initiative. The mission of ACT-SO is to encourage academic and cultural excellence among African American youth.

The DuPage County Branch hosts students in DuPage, Will, Kane, Kendall and parts of Cook County who compete in local competition co-sponsored with the College of DuPage and the DuPage Regional Office of Education. Every year ACT-SO programs are simultaneously orchestrated across the United States. Are you or a high school student interested in science, like to experiment or discover new things? Are you gifted and talented? Do you like to sing, dance, act, or write poetry? Do you paint or draw? Do you have a business mind? If you do, then ACT-SO! Competition guidelines and rules can be found on this website.

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 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.

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 sponsors of and contributors to the local program. ACT-SO students who receive gold medals on the local level receive cash awards and are eligible to compete at the National Competition which is held in a different state each year.