Taylor Rae Spurgeon ’27 and Sarah Vignes ’27 are each expanding the leadership experience through state and national roles.
Two Elon University nursing students are taking on roles beyond campus while continuing to lead the Elon chapter of the National Student Nurses’ Association.
Taylor Rae Spurgeon ’27, the Elon chapter association president, is serving as director at large for the North Carolina Association of Nursing Students for 2026-27. Sarah Vignes ’27, the chapter’s secretary, was elected Happenings Reporter for Imprint, the National Student Nurses’ Association’s official magazine.
As director at large, Spurgeon works with nursing schools across North Carolina by staying in touch with student nursing chapters, visiting schools, and helping students access conventions and other events. She also works with schools interested in starting chapters of their own.
Spurgeon is a founding member of Elon’s chapter of NSNA, which was formed in 2025, and says her experience as a founding member helped motivate her to seek the state role. After attending a national nursing students conference and meeting students and board members from across North Carolina, she applied for the position and was elected in May.
“My main goal is to strengthen communication between the North Carolina Association of Nursing Students and the schools in my region,” Spurgeon said. “I also hope to help more students get involved in SNA.”
Vignes learned about the Imprint opening at the National Student Nurses’ Association’s annual convention. She applied and was elected a few weeks later. In this role, she highlights the chapters across the country and shares news about their initiatives and accomplishments.
“Writing has always been one of my favorite hobbies and a meaningful creative outlet for me,” Vignes said. “When I realized this position would allow me to combine my passion for writing with my nursing education, I knew it was an opportunity I would be grateful to pursue.”
Both students hope their positions will create more opportunities for Elon nursing students. Spurgeon intends to take the ideas and resources from other schools in North Carolina back to Elon, and Vignes hopes that her position at the national level will help the Elon chapter build connections as it starts its second year.
“I hope serving in a national capacity will support the continued growth of the Elon Student Nurses’ Association, while also highlighting the outstanding achievements of nursing students nationwide and inspiring others to pursue their goals,” Vignes said.