Eugene Bartholomew and Addison Adams, both students at Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School, were awarded gold medals at the 2024 Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological, and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) held recently. As a result, they will represent Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) at the national-level competition scheduled for this summer in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Bartholomew, a senior, secured the gold medal in Music: Instrumental Classical, while Adams, a junior, triumphed in Dance: Contemporary, both within the Performing Arts category.

Adams expressed her gratitude, stating, “This gold medal represents the countless hours of practice, the sacrifices made, and the consistent support from my loved ones. It signifies the collective pride that my family feels in witnessing my success.”

Bartholomew emphasized the importance of hard work, stating, “Talent without hard work means nothing.”

Other notable achievers include Markus Albright, a senior at Gar-Field High School, who earned a silver medal in music and a bronze medal in photography. Brandon Durham, a sophomore at Forest Park High School, secured a bronze medal in music, and Samuel Laing, a freshman at Colgan High School, won a silver medal in music.

The NAACP's ACT-SO is a yearlong achievement program designed to recruit, stimulate, and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among high school students in grades 9-12. Although the program targets African American students, all students are welcome to participate. ACT-SO includes 29 competitions in STEM, humanities, business, and performing, visual, and culinary arts.