Six Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students are advancing to the national ACT-SO competition this summer after earning a Gold medal award at the April 26 regional event held at the College of Southern Maryland.

ACT-SO — the NAACP’s Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics — is an achievement program open to high school students of African American descent who are in Grades 9 to 12. The following students advance to the national event in July.

• Kamarie Barnes, poetry performance category, North Point High School, sophomore.
• Isayah Caruth, contemporary music category, Westlake High School, junior.
• Olivia Haralson, contemporary and modern dance categories, North Point, sophomore.
• Shaniyah Hall, written poetry and playwriting categories, North Point, Class of 2025.
  • Hall also received a Bronze medal award in the poetry performance category at the local event.
• Lasanna Richardson, original essay category, North Point, Class of 2025.
• Cynclair Wilson, architecture and painting categories, Maurice J. McDonough High School, junior.

Additionally, Madison McCormick, a Henry E. Lackey High School junior, earned a Silver medal award at the April 26 local ACT-SO event in the painting category.

The National ACT-SO competition is July 9-13 in Charlotte, N.C., and is part of the 2025 NAACP National Convention. At the national ACT-SO competition, these students will take part in local mentorships and enrichment programs to prepare.

The Charles County branch of the NAACP hosted the local competition in April. ACT-SO features more than 30 competitive fields among the interest areas. From performing and culinary arts to STEM, students can demonstrate their talents in up to three competition areas out of the more than 30 fields represented. Students must be U.S. citizens and amateurs to take part in ACT-SO.

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

To learn more about the ACT-SO program, visit https://charlescountynaacp.org/about-act-so. 

About CCPS

Charles County Public Schools provides 28,162 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 38 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.

The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Mike Blanchard, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.  CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).