The Student Programming Association has chosen current vice-president Marisabel Ponce Cordero as the new president and Brandon Bergeron as vice-president.

Ponce Cordero, a computer information systems junior from Guatemala City, will take over the role that Taylor Degruise currently holds at the end of the semester.

“As president, I want to improve SPA as a whole,” Ponce Cordero said. “I want to make sure that everything goes smoothly and that we meet everybody’s expectations, not just inside, but outside the organization.”

Ponce Cordero will be working closely with Bergeron, a psychology junior from Houma.

“We have been working together for two years, so I know him very well,” Ponce Cordero said. “I’m excited that he’s going to be the vice president because I think he’s a very trustworthy person and a very hard worker.”

Bergeron said that he is looking forward to working with Ponce Cordero as well.

“Marisabel and I have known each other since we came to college,” Bergeron said. “We entered SPA at the same time, and we work great together as a team.”

Bergeron said that one of their goals for next year is to host events that not only shine a spotlight on the University, but also the City of Thibodaux.

“We want events that can get through the University setting, but also beyond to the City level to make people say, ‘Wow, this is what Thibodaux has to offer,’” Bergeron said.

Changes will come with any new administration, and according to Bergeron, SPA will be looking at new ways of advertising for its events in the fall.

“Ideas for the future are not set in stone,” Bergeron said. “We have to wait for the new administration and the board members. Teamwork is key. All these thoughts are coming together at one table, and we try to unify them to put on great events for the students.”

Ponce Cordero said they are planning a new officer training before the end of the semester so that the old members can train the new ones. She said this would help everyone know what their job entails.

“I always believe in organizations coming together,” Bergeron said. “We’re all on campus, but Nicholls is a commuter university. Having large attendance at events is hard because people work and they have to study. ”

“We all have personal obligations. We all have work and school. We all have to eat, go to class, study and everything. Time management is really important,” Bergeron said.

Ponce Cordero said they are still in the process of hiring a new publicity director because the workload has been too much for her and the current president to handle.

“We are talking about applications,” Ponce Cordero said. “We are working with the publicity team on getting the word out”

Although SPA is funded directly through student fees, the state budget cuts could affect the organization if Nicholls is forced to increase tuition.
“The University doesn’t really know what’s going on yet,” Bergeron said. “Dr. Murphy is put in an awkward situation to address the matter.”