NYC ACT-SO Alumni
Outstanding Achievers

Christina Sajous, Actor – the 2003 national gold medalist in Dramatics at the NAACP National ACT-SO competition in Miami. In 2010 she starred in the Broadway musical hit, “American Idiot” Christina plays the “Extraordinary Girl”. She toured with the company in 2008 and 2009 before its arrival on Broadway. The rock musical is an adaptation based on the music from the band, Green Day. This was her Broadway debut. Off-Broadway: she appeared in King Lear (Classical Theatre of Harlem). Regional: American Idiot (Berkeley Repertory Theatre), The Who’s Tommy (Arkansas Repertory Theatre), Aida (Artpark). Tour: Rent (national & Japan).She has also appeared in several TV shows on ABC and CBS and was the featured soloist in concert with Patti Labelle.

Michael Phillips, Jazz Musician– ACT-SO 1998 & 1999. Mike began his musical odyssey at the age of five in his native Mt. Vernon, NY. After experimenting with an assortment of instruments including acoustic and electric bass, violin, piano, French horn and trumpet, he focused on the saxophone because it was the vehicle best suited to express his creative passion. In the summer of 1993, Mike made his presence felt on the music scene with his now legendary debut performance at the well-known New York City jazz & R&B spot, Wilson’s. In 1996, Mike was invited to perform at President Clinton’s Inaugural Gala held at The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
Other milestone events include the 80th Birthday Celebration for President Nelson Mandela in South Africa, a Superbowl appearance with Stevie Wonder, and the Billboard Music Awards. Mike’s television credits include Saturday Night Live, The David Letterman Show, BET On Jazz, BET Sound Stage, and The Tonight Show. Mike is a recording artist with Hidden Beach Recording Company.

Sibongile Boyd, Classical Vocalist – Graduate of the Brearley High School; Bachelors from Harvard University; served as a financial analyst for 2 years with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; Currently employed by Fannie Mae in Washington, D.C. made her solo recital debut as a soprano at Harvard in 1997.

Karen Chance – Midwood Medical High School Graduate; Bachelors from University of Pennsylvania; employed as a student recruiter for her alma mater.

Yasmine Hurston, Political Consultant – graduate of Spelman College; three-time local ACT-SO Gold Medalist in Music instrumental; presently serves as the president of the Mid-Manhattan Branch of the NAACP, New York City, and is an assistant to Manhattan Borough President Virginia Fields.

Imo Imeh, Phd, Art Professor – graduate of the High School of Art & Design in NYC; was a seven-time local Gold, Silver and Bronze medalist in Drawing, Painting, Music, Vocal and Oratory; won the national Silver medal for Drawing in 1998; presently attending Columbia University.

Alexis Karteron, Medical Doctor – graduate of Townsend Harris at Queens College, N.Y.C.. 1996 Gold and Silver Medalist in Biology and Original Essay was in the 1997 National Silver medalist in Biology; presently a Pre-Med student at Harvard University.

Lyndon McCray, Filmmaker – Graduate of La Guardia High School; 1998 National ACT-SO Silver Medalist in Filmmaking; Bachelors of Fine Arts in Filmmaking from SUNY Purchase College 2003; currently has his own film company called Imagination Studios.

Rahsheda Smith – Valedictorian of Talent Unlimited High School; 1998 Essence & Pepsi Youth Award for Oratory; was a Local Gold, Silver, Bronze Medalist in Oratory, Playwriting and Poetry; Albert Shaker Scholarship recipient; Bachelor of Arts from Vassar College; currently working as Program Administrator for NYC ACT-SO.

Steve McCoy – graduate of the Manhattan School of Math and Sciences; National ACT-SO Gold Medalist in Essay and the local Gold Medalist in Biology in 1994; recipient of the NASA Science Award and presently a Pre-Med student at Dartmouth College. graduate of the Manhattan School of Math and Sciences; National Gold Medalist in Essay and the local Gold Medalist in Biology in 1994; recipient of the Science Award and presently a Pre-Med student at Dartmouth College.

Francesca Momplaisir – graduate of New York University; 1989, 1990 and 1991 local ACT-SO Gold Medalist in Oratory and Drama; presently a Doctoral candidate in English Literature at Oxford University on a full Scholarship.

Leslie Nurse, Medical Doctor – graduate of Midwood High School; 1995 National ACT-SO Gold Medalist in Biology; presently Pre-Med student in Yale University. graduate of Midwood High School; 1995 National Gold Medalist in Biology; presently Pre-Med student in Yale University.

Jamel Oeser-Sweat, Attorney at Law – graduate of Martin Luther King, Jr. High School; National ACT-SO Silver Medalist in Biology in 1994; was a National Westinghouse Science Winner in 1994; is featured on the cover of a Microbiology College level Textbook, and has a publication in several scientific journals; presently a student at New York University studying Microbiology and Political Science; volunteers with NYC ACT-SO as a junior coach in Biology and Chemistry.

Johnny Parham, Jr, Engineer & Entrepreneur – graduate of Brooklyn Technical High School. 1987 national ACT-SO Gold Medalist in Computer Science; led the team that secured the patent for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) project at General Electric; holds degrees in Electrical Engineering and Business Administration. Owns his own company, TECHREP, Inc.

Everton Propsere, Medial Doctor – Graduate of Erasmus Hall High School; Medical degree from the Sophie Davis School of Medicine at City College of New York; resident doctor at Winthrop University Hospital in Long Island, New York.

Stacie Reis, Federal Reserve Bank Inspector – Erasmus Hall High School graduate; Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Psychology from City College of New York; Assistant Finance Accountant at the Investment Bank of Solomon/Smith Barney; NYC ACT-SO Assistant Secretary and Workshop Volunteer.

Al-Khabir Richman – graduate of Art and Design High School; Gold and Silver Medalist in Photography at the National ACT-SO Competition 1994 and 1995; graduate of Parson School of Design and works for Time-Life Magazine and Macy’s.

Karla Simmons, Vocalist – graduate of LaGuardia High School and Julliard School of Music; was a three-time National ACT-SO Medalist in Music Vocal; recipient of the Lena Horne Scholarship and has performed at the Metropolitan Opera House.

Nkenge Simpson, Vocalist – graduate of Manhattan School of Music; three-time local ACT-SO Gold Medalist in Music Vocal; recipient of the Lena Horne Scholarship and a participant in the Leontyne Price Vocal Competition; has performed at Weil Recital in Carnegie Hall, The White House, Leighton House in London, and at a UNESCO Gala in Paris.

Venessa Toney, Medical Doctor – Graduate of Midwood Medical High School at Brooklyn College; Bachelor of Science in Biology and MD/PhD at Brown University School of Medicine.