About 15 local high school students competed recently for medals in the ACT - SO fifth annual academic competition sponsored by the Bethlehem Chapter of the NAACP. Liberty HS was the venue for the event.

Ka'yon Ross won a gold medal for poetry while Immani Gaye took home a silver medal for poetry.

Rachel Anson received a bronze medal for poetry.

Gaye also took a bronze medal for dramatics and Anson got a silver medal in contemporary vocal music.

Jamid Knight won a bronze medal for his performance in the instrumental contemporary music competition.

All of the students are from either Liberty HS or Freedom HS, according to Jessica Lee who helped coordinate the annual event.

Ross, with a first place gold medal is eligible to compete in a national competition.

ACT-SO is an acronym for Academic, Cultural, Technological, and Scientific Olympics. ACT-SO recruits students annually and conducts annual Academic Olympic competitions for students in grades 9 through 12 in NAACP Branches throughout the country.

Retired Bethlehem Area School District teacher Tomcene Nickens was the chairperson for the event. Nickens is the second vice president of the Bethlehem NAACP.