The New York City Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) is a youth program under the administrative aegis of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). ACT-SO is an enrichment program designed to encourage high academic and cultural achievement among under-served minority high school students. Near the end of every academic year, ACT-SO students participate in an "Olympics of the Mind".
On Monday, May 5, 2014 at St. Francis College, Midwood received 7 gold medals, 2 silver medals, 2 bronze medals, and 2 ambassador awards — more than any prior year. We also entered in more categories than ever before — the sciences (of course), visual arts, performing arts, and humanities. (The only category we missed was business.) All medalists receive an honoraria from a New York City branch of the NAACP (Brooklyn, Mid-Manhattan, or Williamsbridge). Gold medalists go on to compete in the National ACT-SO in Las Vegas July 19–23, 2014.
- Chris Ayala received a Gold Medal in Physics for his project "Encoding Information with Light's Angular Momentum". Chris worked under the supervision of Dr. Giovanni Milione in the Department of Physics at City College. Chris also received an Ambassador of the Year award for his exceptional service as an ACT-SO recruiter.
- Yasmine Brown-Williams received a Bronze Medal in Medicine for her project "The Effect of a High-Fat Diet on Whole-Body and Muscle Insulin Resistance". Yasmine worked under the supervision of Dr. Kathleen Axen in the Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences at Brooklyn College.
- Samuel Genchikmakher received a Silver Medal in Instrumental, Classical for his piano performance of "La campanella" by Franz Liszt.
- Stefanie Henry received a Gold Medal in Medicine for her project "Promoting Repair of Damaged Corticospinal Tract". Stefanie worked under the supervision of Dr. John (Jack) Martin in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at City College.
- Raquel Hosein received a Gold Medal in Engineering for her project "Application of a Wireless Electrical Device for the Detection of Epilepsy". Raquel worked under the supervision of Dr. Jonathan Viventi at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering.
- Mosammed Tasnin Kabir received a Gold Medal in Microbiology for her project "Anti-cancer peptide PNC-27 associates with Mitochondria in Cancer Cells". Tasnin worked under the supervision of Dr. Josef Michl in the Department of Pathology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center.
- Anna Li received a Silver Medal in Painting for her work entitled "Desdemona". Anna worked under the supervision of Mr. Jonathan Pincus in the Department of Art and Music at Midwood High School.
- Chukwunonso Nwasike received a Gold Medal in Short Story for a composition entitled "1862". Nonso worked under the supervision of Mr. Peter Vilbig in the English Department at Midwood High School. Nonso also received an Ambassador of the Year award for his exceptional service as an ACT-SO recruiter.
- Akeem Pinnock received a Gold Medal in Medicine for his project "Iron's Involvement in the Diagnosis of Lupus". Akeem worked under the supervision of Dr. Donald Gerber in the Department of Medicine at SUNY Downstate Medical Center.
- Gabrielle Rios received a Gold Medal in Drawing for her work entitled "Many Leaves, One Tree". She also received a Bronze Medal in Painting for her work entitled "España". Gabrielle worked under the supervision of Mr. Jonathan Pincus in the Department of Art and Music at Midwood High School.
 If you think so … Then ACT-SO! |
 Registration day at PS 84 on the Upper West Side |
 Competition day selfie at the Wingate High School campus |
 Presentation of awards at St. Francis College |
 The always dynamic President of ACT-SO, Mr. Anton Tomlinson speaks to the medal winners. |