Student Programming Association President Taylor Degruise said that the biggest thing about being a leader in an organization is to leave it better than you found it.
Degruise is a senior from Thibodaux majoring in psychology and minoring in government and business administration.
“As I got closer to graduating high school, I realized that Nicholls had a great psychology program. They also offered me an awesome scholarship package which allowed me to live on campus, and that really changed my mind,” Degruise said. “Once I started my freshman year, I knew I’d made the right decision and I’ve grown to love Nicholls so much.”
Degruise became apart of the SPA in the spring of her freshman year because one of her friends, who was on the committee, had invited her to Entertainment Committee meetings. She immediately loved the organization. In Degruise’s sophomore year, she decided to apply for the executive board, which began her leadership roles.
Degruise said that she was first assistant publicity director her sophomore year.
“I was a little worried at first, but I ended up loving it,” said Degruise.
Her first office, where she learned how to design and create things, only lasted a year. Degruise became publicity director her junior year, and now she is president as a senior.
“I’ve been trying to improve the processes of SPA and improve the communication between the students at the ground level and the board members,” she said. “I’m trying to get the committees heads to improve their committees.”
Degruise said, “Right now, I’m really trying to improve all the parts of SPA.”
She hopes that SPA will only improve and continue to grow.
Degruise is also a member of Phi Mu and the vice president of the Psychology Club.
When Degruise graduates, she said that she will definitely miss being a part of the organization because she has been there for three years and has loved it. She has made good friends with everyone on the board, and the organization has become a part of who she is. “It’s just a really good working environment so we all became close,” said Degruise.
After she graduates, Degruise wants to go to law school. She also wants to move out of Thibodaux, but isn’t sure of what else she will do.
“One cool thing about SPA is that I never thought of myself as a creative person, but then I got hired as Assistant Publicity Director, and the first thing I got assigned was a flyer. I learned that I really loved doing it,” Degruise said.