The Pine Bluff ACT-SO program recently presented awards to the contest winners for 2025.
The Afro-Academics, Cultural, Technological & Scientific Olympics program is a youth initiative of the NAACP that has produced some of the nation’s most outstanding young African-American achievers for more than 40 years, according to Stuff in the Bluff.
The Pine Bluff ACT-SO Committee recently held its local competitions and congratulated winners who competed in various categories.
All winners were from Pine Bluff School District.
Honorees and their categories are:
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Sylvana Burgess — Photography; Pine Bluff High School.
Taylor Calhoun — STEM/Computer Science; Pine Bluff High School.
Joven Hamlet — Photography and Music; Pine Bluff Junior High School.
Jamya Wells — Painting and Drawing; Pine Bluff Junior High School.
Many well-known celebrities’ careers began through the ACT-SO program, including movie producer John Singleton, actress Jada Pinkett Smith and comedian Anthony Anderson, according to the news release.
“Please support our youth as they represent our city at this year’s National ACT-SO competitions July 9-15, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C.
Your donations will help underwrite the costs associated with hotel accommodations, transportation, registration fees and daily meals,” according to the release.
Supporters may mail checks or money orders to Pine Bluff NAACP, P.O. Box 9064, Pine Bluff, AR 71611-9064.
In the notation line, write “ACT-SO Donation.”
Donors may also take checks or money orders to Indigo Blue Coffeehouse, 212 W. Barraque St., Pine Bluff.
Options for donations using a credit or debit card are available through GoFundMe and PayPal.
All funds collected are dedicated to supporting the Pine Bluff ACT-SO Program.
Please be advised that the Pine Bluff branch is not a 501(c)(3) organization and is not tax deductible.
Details: Maryann Lee, Pine Bluff ACT-SO program committee chairperson, at (870) 718-5330 or mizmaryann@gmail.com.
“Thank you for your support,” a spokesman said.
