For members of high school bands, the Sugar Bowl is right up there with the Super Bowl for football players, the Oscars for actors and the Nobel Prize for scientists.

It’s among the highest possible achievements in their careers in their chosen pursuits. Some will go on to pursue a career in music, but for most of them, performing for the Sugar Bowl is at the top of their list.

The Nansemond River High School Mighty Marching Warriors have been invited to this season’s Sugar Bowl, a five-day experience that will include a Battle of the Bands field show competition, marching in the official Sugar Bowl Parade and performing in the halftime show with members of other bands from across the nation.

As band director Edward Woodis said this week, “It’s the experience of a lifetime.”

The band has worked hard to get to this point. Long, hot afternoons of band camp, steady improvement individually and as a whole over a number of years, and performances at other events such as the Macy’s Holiday Parade and the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade have helped the band prepare for this invitation.

Now, they just need to raise the money. The price tag is pretty steep by any measure: $128,000 by Nov. 30. About $20,000 of that already has been raised with fundraisers all summer long.

More than 80 marching band members will need to get to Louisiana and back with sharply pressed uniforms, shiny instruments and chaperones in tow. They’ll need lodging and meals and incidental costs while they’re there. And all of it will be among the best experiences these young people will ever have.

There are a number of ways the community can help. If you see the Mighty Marching Warriors out raising funds, please support them. If you own a business or can help personally, please sponsor them.

Visit nrhs.spsk12.net or call 923-4101 and ask to speak to Woodis. The Mighty Marching Warriors are counting on the entire community for help.