ACT-SO is an acronym for Academic, Cultural, Technological - Scientific Olympics (Olympics of the Mind). ACT-SO is an academic and cultural enrichment program that provides high school students an opportunity to enhance their skills in over 26 categories spanning the Sciences, Humanities, Performing and Visual Arts. This national program was founded by award winning journalist and civil rights activist Vernon Jarrett in 1977 to help destroy the cycle of low expectations and low achievement that plagues minority youth. Today over 500,000 minority high school students participate locally in over 500 branches throughout the country. Local winners go on to compete in the national Olympics of the Mind Competition. Famous ACT-SO alumni include John Singleton, Jada Pinkett, Kanye West, Lauryn Hill, Roy Hargrove and Anthony Anderson.