We are recognizing 11 students representing Blake, Middleton, Steinbrenner, and Riverview high schools and Universal Academy of Florida. The categories include: Architecture; Engineering; Health and Medicine; Written Original Essay, Short Story and Poetry; Vocal Music; Oratory; Spoken Word Poetry; Drawing; Painting; Photography; and Sculpture.

ACT-SO provides a forum for these students to demonstrate academic, artistic, and scientific prowess and expertise, thereby achieving the recognition often reserved for athletes and entertainers. There are 26 categories of competition in the sciences, humanities, business, and performing and visual arts with more than 260,000 young people participating since its inception. The Hillsborough County Branch of the NAACP has been an active participant for more than two decades.