Thirteen students representing the Jacksonville Branch of the NAACP returned home from the 2026 NAACP Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) National Competition in Chicago with national recognition, including two silver medals, after competing against some of the nation’s top African American high school scholars, artists and performers.

Leading the medal winners were Jahneen Alexander of Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, who earned a silver medal in Classical Instrumental Music, and Journey Spencer, also of Douglas Anderson, who captured a silver medal in Contemporary Dance.

The Jacksonville delegation participated in national competitions, master classes and professional networking opportunities while receiving high evaluations from judges in a wide range of academic and artistic disciplines.

“Proud doesn’t begin to describe this amazing group of young leaders,” said delegation chaperone Sandra Thompson, who credited students, parents, coaches, mentors, volunteers and supporters for helping make the yearlong journey possible.

Founded by the NAACP in 1978, ACT-SO is often described as the “Olympics of the Mind.” The national enrichment and achievement program was created to recognize and develop the talents of African American high school students in the sciences, humanities, business, performing arts, visual arts and culinary arts. Since its inception, the program has helped launch the careers of thousands of young leaders, including physicians, engineers, educators, entrepreneurs, artists and public servants.

Students compete in 33 categories, beginning at the local level through participating NAACP branches and youth councils. Only local gold medalists advance to the national competition, where they compete against winners from chapters across the country.

The Jacksonville Branch’s ACT-SO program operates year-round, providing mentorship, academic enrichment and competitive preparation for students in grades 9-12. Local organizers said the program is designed not only to reward excellence but also to prepare participants for success in college, careers and community leadership.

This year’s national competition in Chicago brought together hundreds of students from across the United States, showcasing academic excellence, creativity and innovation while continuing ACT-SO’s nearly five-decade tradition of celebrating the achievements of the next generation of Black leaders.