Each contestant must:

1. be of African-American or Latino/Hispanic descent.
2. be a high school student enrolled in grades 9 through 12.
3. be a citizen or legal resident of the United States.
4. be an individual who has demonstrated a genuine interest in one of the 26 categories.
5. submit a separate project, one contestant per category per city (a contestant may enter up to three (3) categories of competition.
6. be of amateur status–never having never having performed as a professional in any categories of competition
7. conform to the guideline requirements as dictated by the category(s) chosen.
8. submit to his/her local NAACP chapter     
   • a.  a final application.
   •  b.  a 1 to 2 page, typed biography (double-spaced).
9. for National contestants, submit to his/her local NAACP ACT-SO sponsor:
   1. a completed project.
   2. a national application.
   3. a one to two page, typed [double-spaced] biography.
   4. a completed parental consent form.
   5.  a medical release form signed by a parent.
   6. a small, clear photo.
   7. Media release.