The Student Programming Association has selected its secretary-treasurer Amy Borne, business administration junior from Mandeville, to succeed current president Courtney Ponson when Ponson’s term ends on May 15. Borne has been active in the SPA for several semesters. In addition to being current SPA secretary-treasurer and future SPA president, Borne is also a University orientation leader, an officer in Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority, the president of Panhellenic, a member of Order of Omega honors fraternity and a student-worker at the purchasing department in Elkins Hall.
“I am very honored to have this position,” Borne said. “The president right now, Courtney Ponson, has done an excellent job and just to come up and do the same traditions that have always been here is an honor.”
After attending a University-sponsored leadership conference at Disney World in Orlando with a group of students selected as representatives for their organizations, Borne said she hopes to get together with those students as president to incorporate all student organizations and “see what they want to see happen” on campus.
SPA adviser Jennifer White said she feels that Borne will make an excellent president and that Borne has proven herself as a leader on campus and through her academics.
“(Borne) is an excellent student, and I’m really looking forward to working with her,” White said.
According to the SPA Constitution, the powers and duties of an SPA president include serving as chief officer of the SPA and the chairperson for the Executive Board and as a liaison between the University administration and the students, attending SPA meetings, being a member of every committee, implementing SPA programs and activities and performing duties as outlined by the SPA handbook.
“My role is to watch over all the committees and make sure they are doing their jobs, make sure all the correct paperwork is done and make sure everyone is on task doing his or her job,” Borne said. “I kind of need to be the one communicating between the adviser and higher authorities about what’s going on on campus.”
According to White, all fee-paying students with seven or more hours are members of SPA. White said all students are welcomed to attend SPA meetings whose times and dates are often advertised around campus.
Borne said she is looking forward to several SPA-sponsored events this spring such as Midterm Breakfast at Galliano Cafeteria on March 17 from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m., a breakfast with a Dr. Seuss theme and in which students will be served by faculty members; Casino Night on March 25, which will be held in the Bollinger Memorial Student Union and which will offer a roulette wheel, craps tables and a blackjack table; Crawfish Day in the John L. Guidry Football Stadium on April 29; and an Old-School Game Day and Express-Yourself Fashion Show sometime in April.
“We are the avenue of activities and the people that can make stuff happen,” White said. “In general, I’m looking forward to working with Amy (Borne) and the executive board. I think the groundwork that’s been laid down with this year’s board will certainly be carried through for next year, and we can just add to it and improve with what we started with in Courtney’s position as president. This year, things have been excellent, and things are only going to get better.
