Fifteen children are warming up their voices, tuning their strings, sliding on their pointe shoes, and sharpening their pencils as they get ready to attend summer arts camps courtesy of the sNoBalls, a Tangipahoa-based parading group dedicated to supporting children in the arts.
From the orchestra pit to the stage, the sNoBalls’ 2025 scholarship recipients, ages 5-16, come from Ponchatoula, Mandeville, Hammond, Madisonville, Pearl River, and Walker and represent the fields of music, theatre, dance, and visual arts.
In music, the recipients are Isaac Pounds attending Northshore Strings Fiddle Camp, Julianne Jiles attending the Star Theatre Group’s Seussical Summer Intensive as part of the Junior Pit Orchestra, and Ada Beverly attending Chamber Music Camp by Southeastern’s Community Music School.
In theatre, the recipients are Eva Smedley attending Swamplight Theatre’s Summer Candy Land Camp, Aurora Mae Walden attending Swamplight Theatre’s Summer Candy Land Camp, Leah Grace Braud attending Mouledous Music Drama Camp, and Emma Elizabeth McNaughton attending Star Theatre Group’s Seussical Summer Intensive.
In dance, the recipients are Layla Marie Sanzone attending the New Orleans Ballet Association’s Summer Intensive, Adeline Sakura Watson attending Ballet Magnificat Jr. Summer Intensive, Cailey Fuseilier attending Fellom Balley Legacy’s Summer Workshop, Evan Hiroshi Watson attending Ballet Magnificat Dance Camp, and Landry Evelyn Morrow attending A Touch of Class Performing Arts’ Summer Dance Intensive.
In visual arts, the recipients are Vincent Mitchell, Abby Scarbrough, and Lexie Rene Tauzier all attending Sunshine Studio Arts Camps.
“Offering these summer arts camp scholarships is why I was inspired to create this group,” sNoBalls’ founder and director Marcia Arceneaux said. Arceneaux is a faculty member at Southeastern Louisiana University and within the Tangipahoa Parish School System.
“As a professional musician and music educator, I know the true value of these programs. I am thrilled that in our second year, we’re able to award 15 scholarships so students can continue their arts studies this summer.”
The sNoBalls is a non-profit parading organization dedicated to supporting the arts. Each member has a chosen snowball flavor, such as strawberry or wedding cake, that they display through custom hats. Through parade appearances and their charity ball, they fundraise to send school-age children to summer arts camps.
“The growth has been phenomenal. Last year, our first season, we were able to award three scholarships,” Arceneaux said. “This year, we had nearly 40 scholarship applications, showing the need is there. Supporting these children makes every step at each parade worth it.”
Funding these scholarships was a group and community effort, explained board member Alicia Barnes, as sNoBalls members secured donations, created baskets, decorated the venue, and performed in parades in Hammond, Mandeville, Ponchatoula, Morgan City, and Slidell.
“We are so glad to have the support of our community with their generous auction donations and attendance at our ball,” Barnes said. “We are excited to pour back into our community, especially when we can send a child to a local camp.”
With 30 active members this season, the group has doubled its size while awarding five times the number of scholarships offered.
“Our members are the best,” Barnes said. “We all come from different backgrounds and have different availability and talents. I’ve really been impressed with everyone’s commitment to this program, and our success shows through this scholarship class.”
The sNoBalls is currently enrolling members for next year who want to dance and throw a ball, all for the goal of supporting children’s arts education. They are also looking for ball sponsors and auction donations.
“We want to keep growing and doing good across Southeast Louisiana,” Arceneaux said. “To do so, we need more flavors to join us, we need more people to party with us at our ball and bid in our auction, we need more students to apply for scholarships, and we need the arts camps for them to attend.”
More information about the sNoBalls is available at thesnoballs.com.
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