Courtney Fruge
Administrative Assistant 4
Louisiana State University at Eunice (LSUE)
Courtney Fruge, an Administrative Assistant 4 with Louisiana State University at Eunice (LSUE), is a self-described hometown girl with a commitment to state service. Her familial roots run deep within the Eunice community where she was born and raised.
Fruge is a relatively new state employee with under four years of service at LSUE. However, in a short amount of time, she has impressed many colleagues with her dedication and exemplary work ethic. Patricia Gaspard, a Human Resources Analyst at LSUE and touted by Fruge as one of her mentors, said, “Her professionalism and work ethic are unmatched. She is very knowledgeable about her department and about how the campus runs in general; and because of this knowledge, she is able to provide service to all of the employees at LSUE.”
Fruge is responsible for performing administrative duties for the Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs, Arlene Tucker. While her duties include greeting visitors, handling phone calls, and scheduling meetings, she is also the university key master and maintains the vehicle fleet records. Fruge also manages travel reimbursements and adherence to guidelines, takes care of the payroll for classified employees, and assists with managing the university budget.
According to Tucker, “Courtney is a very conscientious, selfless employee who goes that ‘extra step’ to help a student or fellow employee. She maintains a positive, caring attitude and has a pleasing demeanor. She exhibits pride in her work and has an outstanding work ethic. I am very fortunate to have her as my Administrative Assistant.”
Fruge attributes the development of her work ethic to both parents because her “goal was to make them proud.” A major accomplishment for her was to be the first in the family to get a college degree. Fruge earned an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science in Management from LSU-Eunice and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from LSU-Alexandria.
She began honing her work skills at 14, managing a snowball stand where she learned about scheduling, payroll, and inventory. With each subsequent job, Fruge continued to increase her knowledge of customer service, business practices, and advanced in each position. Her favorite job was at a local jewelry store, where she worked her way from giftwrap to jeweler, reveling in the creative aspects and challenges of the position.
At LSUE, Fruge is president of the LSUE Staff Senate and coordinates events such as the spring semester bash and Christmas activities, as well as fundraisers for staff members. She enjoys this light-hearted element of the job, as a nice change from the formality of her regular duties. “I feel that I’m making a difference in the work I do. Administrative Assistants sometimes get less recognition, but we keep things flowing. You have to give your best at any job because it’s important to keep it functioning,” said Fruge.
After 21 years in the workforce, Fruge shared that the reality of being a state worker is that it is harder than many people in the private sector understand. She advises, “Young people coming into state service should give it a chance and don’t be scared off. There are many jobs that can do good for future generations and it’s not always about the money. The big thing is to be happy at what you’re doing.”
A big part of happiness for Fruge involves her husband, two children, and extended family in the Eunice area. They spend time together camping, fishing, and hunting. As for this hometown girl’s future, Fruge said, “I plan to be at LSUE, but maybe in a different capacity or position. I’m not done growing.”