Two Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students earned medals in the National NAACP ACT-SO Competition held earlier this month. ACT-SO – the NAACP’s Afro-Academic, Culture, Technological and Scientific Olympics – is an achievement program open to high school students of African American descent who are in Grades 9-12.

Mohamed Keita, member of the North Point High School Class of 2024, earned a gold medal in the Medicine and Health category. This was Keita’s first time competing in the national ACT-SO competition.

La Plata High School senior Isaiah DeLeonard earned a silver medal in the Music Composition category. This is the third consecutive year that DeLeonard has competed at the national ACT-SO level. He previously medaled at the national level in 2022 and 2023.

Haili Powell, member of the La Plata High School Class of 2024, received a “Write Your Future,” $10,000 scholarship from Lancôme. She competed at the national level after receiving a gold medal in the music vocal contemporary category at the Charles County ACT-SO event.

Five other CCPS students competed at the national level after earning a gold medal at the Charles County competition.

• Niya Cox, Westlake High School 2024 graduate, competed in the drawing category.
• Shaniyah Hall, North Point senior, competed in the original essay and written poetry categories.
• Jonathan Haralson, North Point Class of 2024 graduate, competed in the engineering category.
• Olivia Haralson, North Point sophomore, competed in the dance category – contemporary and modern.
• Cynclair Wilson, Maurice J. McDonough High School junior, competed in the painting category.

The National ACT-SO competition was held July 11-14 in Las Vegas and was part of the 2024 NAACP National Convention. 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.

The Charles County branch of the NAACP will host a 2025 competition kick-off meeting in October. The 2025 national ACT-SO competition is set for July 9-13 in Charlotte, N.C. To learn more about the ACT-SO program, visit https://charlescountynaacp.org/act-so.

About CCPS

Charles County Public Schools provides 27,765 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).