Nine Westchester Gold Medalists to Enter ACT-SO National Competition

The Westchester Region ACT-SO Coalition is proud to announce that on April 15th and April 22nd of this year, thirty-nine talented and ambitious students participated in the Westchester Region NAACP ACT-SO Regional Competition, representing various high schools within Westchester County,

The students presented their projects with enthusiasm and pride through a virtual platform. The competition was a huge success.

On April 30, 2023, at Westchester Community College, the participants were recognized and awarded for their presentations with certificates, bronze, silver and gold medals. The Westchester Region Coalition will sponsor the nine gold medalists to participate in the NAACP ACT-SO National Competition to be held in Boston, Massachusetts, July 26-July 29th. The Westchester Region Coalition Inc will continue to engage in fundraising to ensure that all expenses are paid for the students to compete in the NAACP ACT-SO National Competition.

We applaud and recognize all of our 2023 Westchester Region ACT-SO participants .

A special congratulations to the nine gold medalists who will attend the NAACP National Competition. We wish them luck.

Orion Divino Juma Douglas – STEM-Medicine & Health – Senior, Ossining High School - Will attend Northeastern University in the Fall

Leah Charity-Spriggs - STEM-Engineering - Junior, Tuckahoe High School

Aryanna Luesma-Hoover – Painting – Senior, Alexander Hamilton High School - Will attend SUNY Purchase College in the Fall

Michael Middleton – Dance Contemporary - Freshman, Denzel Washington School of the Arts

.Lauren Satchell – Music Vocal Contemporary – Senior, Denzel Washington School of the Arts - Will attend Stonehill College in the Fall

Brice Buchanan – Music Instrumental Contemporary – Senior, Denzel Washington School of the Arts - Will attend SUNY Purchase College in the Fall

Harmony Hopwood – Poetry Performance - Freshman, New Rochelle High School

Ilana RahimBraden - Music Composition - Senior, Westhill High School. Stamford, CT.

Devynn Hernandez- Drawing, Senior, Ossining High School - Will attend SUNY Purchase College in the Fall

ACT-SO (Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics) was founded in 1978 by author and journalist Vernon Jarrett and adopted by the NAACP as a major youth initiative. It is a vehicle through which African-American high school youth may develop and demonstrate potential for excellence in arts and letters, scientific and artistic pursuits.

Questions regarding ACT-SO and offers of assistance as mentors, judges and other roles may be directed to Ms. Ingraham Taylor, Chairperson, at (914) 391-5435.