Ossining High School Students Earn Bronze Medals at National NAACP ACT-SO Competition

Two Ossining High School seniors earned national recognition for their work at the NAACP’s Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) National Competition, held this month in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Frank Murphy II was awarded a Bronze Medal in the Chemistry/Biochemistry category, Olivia Wallace earned a Bronze Medal in Biology/Microbiology. Both students are members of Ossining’s nationally recognized Science Research Program and advanced to the national level after earning top spots at the regional ACT-SO competition hosted by the White Plains/Greenburgh NAACP chapter.

“We are so proud of Frank and Olivia for advancing to the national stage and earning Bronze Medals at ACT-SO,” said Science Research Co-Director Angelo Piccirillo. “Their dedication to scientific inquiry and their ability to communicate their research to a broad audience is inspiring.”

“This is a tremendous accomplishment, not just for Frank and Olivia, but for our entire Science Research community,” added Science Research Co-Director Valerie Holmes. “These students represent the very best of what happens when passion meets opportunity, and we couldn’t be prouder.”

Founded in 1978, ACT-SO is a yearlong enrichment program sponsored by the NAACP that promotes academic and artistic excellence among high school students of African descent. Students compete in 32 categories across STEM, humanities, business, performing arts, visual arts, and culinary arts. The program is designed to encourage and recognize the achievements of African-American youth and to provide opportunities for learning and growth beyond the classroom.

Principal LaToya Langley praised the students' achievements, noting, “Frank and Olivia have demonstrated what it means to pursue excellence with purpose. Their achievements at the national level are a reflection of their hard work, the guidance of their mentors, and the strength of our Science Research program. We are incredibly proud of their success.”

Ossining High School’s Science Research Program has a proud tradition of developing student researchers who achieve recognition at the regional, state, and national levels. The accomplishments of Frank and Olivia mark another milestone in the district’s ongoing commitment to equity, opportunity, and academic excellence.