The Pine Bluff Branch NAACP is pleased to announce the participation of Taylor Calhoun as a contestant in the National NAACP ACT-SO Competition in computer science/artificial intelligence. The ACT-SO (Afro-Academics, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics) Program is one of the most prestigious academic competitions in the country. Each year, thousands of young academic achievers gather at the annual competition to win scholarships, monetary prizes and to be acknowledged for their talents.
Calhoun, who graduated from Pine Bluff High School (PBHS) on May 14, 2026, is a young inventor who created an artificial intelligence (AI) program to monitor student academic progress. Her program allows students to track assignments and communicate with teachers for feedback and support. Parents can also use the application to monitor their children’s progress and assignment completion. This educational tool helps parents and students who have fallen behind receive targeted support from teachers to understand and complete their assignments. The program is designed to support students from first grade through high school graduation. Calhoun also sees strong entrepreneurial potential in her idea and its future development.
Calhoun is a local gold medal winner who will be representing Pine Bluff at the national competitions in July. She will be defending her project before judges who are professional AI experts. Maryann Lee, chairperson for the Pine Bluff Branch NAACP ACT-SO Program, expressed her joy and future aspirations for Calhoun.
“We are so proud to have Taylor as a member of our ACT-SO team for the national competitions,” Lee said. “She is our first STEM contestant, and we are hoping for our first national ACT-SO winner in STEM. We expect her to rise high in the field of artificial intelligence as she pursues her academic career at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff this fall.”
Calhoun is one of five members of the Pine Bluff Branch NAACP ACT-SO Team. The other contestants are Joven Hamlet, Jordan Williams, Clair Hollis, and Jamya Wells. All attend PBHS and are 2026 local gold medalists.
