Headline photo: Dominique Essex stands in Gold Place position as a result of his excellent classical piano performance. Troy Roberts III received a silver medal for his guitar performance and Soreya Nelson earned bronze medal for her piano presentation.

By Sonya Hollins, editor
editor@comvoicesonline.com

KALAMAZOO COUNTY (MICH)- Students with talents in everything from dramatics to classical piano were showcased during the Kalamazoo Metropolitan NAACP’s 10th annual ACT-SO competition. The event, founded by journalist Vernon Jordan, allows students of African decent to showcase their talents in local and national friendly competition for prizes and scholarships. The word ACT-SO stands for Academic, Cultural, Technological -Scientific Olympics.

This year, more than a dozen area students competed in various areas for gold medals. Those who received gold medals on the local level will compete against thousands of other students from across the nation during the annual competition in July in Los Angeles, California.

Medalist for this years event held on April 15 at at the Little Theater on the campus of WMU received their awards during a special ceremony at Mt. Zion Baptist Church the following day. They include:

Gold Winners

Dominique Essix- Piano – Loy Norrix – 12^th
Tailor Miles – Orig. Essay – K-Central – 12^th
Jasmine Franklin – Oratory and Music Vocal Contemporary – Portage Central – 12^th;
Ollie Barnes IV – Business – K-Central – 10^th

Silver Winners

Karlisa Caldwell – Poetry – Comstock – 10^th
Troy Robertson III – Guitar – Portage Northern – 11^th
Bryce Burnette – Music Vocal Contemporary – K-Central – 12^th
Sharee Little – Filmmaking – K-Central – 12^th

Bronze Winners

Cahlia Lanier – Oratory – Portage Central – 10^th
Soreya Nelson – Piano – K-Central – 11^th
Taylor Johnson – Music Vocal Contemporary – 12^th
Marques Ware – Filmmaking – K-Central – 10^th

Honorable Mentions

Omar Buchanan – Poetry – K-Central – 11^th
Kasha Lavato – Orig. Essay – K-Central – 12^th
Sasha Hudson – Violin – K-Central – 10^th
Amarachi Nnebedum – Music Vocal Classical K-Central – 12^th
T’Ausia Bronson – Music Vocal Contemporary – K-Central – 11^th
Jasmine Franklin – Dramatics – Portage Central – 12th