Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Emotions filled a small room at Jonesboro High School on Thursday afternoon as a group of girls received some great news that their sponsor had been hiding for months.
On Jan. 15, Jonesboro High School (JHS) staff members presented a check to the school’s Tau Delta Pi Step Team in the amount of $50,000 as part of the 2026 Walking Together: Investing in Folklife in Communities of Color program. Once the check was revealed by JHS Spirit Coordinator Caroline Crawford, the team erupted in cheer and tears of joy.
According to the U.S. Regional Arts Organizations (USRAO), the program awards grants to traditional artists, practitioners, nonprofits, local and tribal governments, and community organizations and knowledge keepers that show “a deep commitment to sustaining folklife rooted in communities of color.”
In total, $3.34 million was awarded to 96 grantees across the United States, including Jonesboro, with 56 each receiving $50,000, and 40 each receiving $15,000.
Tiffany Sandlin, the step team sponsor, said she got the idea of applying for the grant at the end of 2024, when a former parent, who is on a committee involved in the Walking Together program, talked to her about it and said it may be a great fit for them.
Sandlin didn’t find out they were awarded the grant until November 2025, while on break, and needless to say, she couldn’t contain her excitement.
“I was going to the Jonesboro-Nettleton rivalry basketball game, and I was looking at my email to send somebody something, and I got the notice that I wanted. I mean, I just yelled so loud, like I just couldn’t believe it, I was very amazed,” she said.
Keeping the news a secret was very hard, according to Sandlin. While the check was presented on Thursday, the USRAO actually made the news public on Jan. 13. She said they had to do a lot to ensure the girls did not know the secret beforehand.
“[We were] not trying to tell anybody, tip-toeing around even today, going to pick up [the] check, putting it in trash bags, and doing all kinds of things. I was like, ‘This is a lot of work,’ and I’m just glad that they know now I don’t have to hide anything,” she said.
The check is a testament to the dedication and spirit the girls bring. Sandlin said they do love each other and work hard. Most importantly, they love having fun together.
“I know what this actually means to them, and I know that even their reactions were amazing, but I know that once everybody’s gone and it’s settled down, they’re just going to be truly wowed,” she said.
Sandlin explained that, with the money, she wants to create new opportunities for the girls. One idea is to expand their annual Little Cane Step Camp, which is held every summer for a week and involves girls who are in kindergarten through sixth grade.
“I wanted to expand that and be able to offer scholarships for girls that aren’t able to afford that but want that experience, want to learn more about it,” she said.
Another idea is to focus on the junior high schools. While Douglas MacArthur recently started a team, Annie Camp does not currently have one. Sandlin wants to make sure both junior high schools get the same opportunities as the high school.
In addition to these goals, seven seniors in the step team will each receive a $500 scholarship when they go to college.
With the spirit of the team stepping onward, Sandlin hopes that the legacy of excellence, perseverance, and determination continues to go with each student.
“Regardless of who’s on the step team, they feel seen, feel heard, and feel like they have a purpose and know where they’re going. That’s my goal,” she said.