Laura Morello, a senior from Montgomery, has been named Samford University's 2009 Student Employee of the Year.

An interior design and art major, Morello has worked as a student assistant in the reference department of the Samford Library for almost three years.

Morello received a certificate and a $200 cash prize from Samford president Dr. Andrew Westmoreland during a special student employee recognition ceremony Tuesday, April 7. Her nomination will be submitted in regional competition.

Student employees were nominated by their supervisors based on the unique contributions they make in their work area

Morello was cited for her quick mastery of the reference department's three primary areas: interlibrary loan, reference desk and government documents. Her enthusiastic initiative to learn new tasks and routines was also noted.

"Her willing and cheerful attitude and her diligence are even stronger recommendations than her stellar level of work," wrote Morello's nominator, library unit coordinator Lori Northrup. "This cheerfulness carries over into her interactions with other staff and with patrons, with whom she is consistently polite, helpful and professional."

Samford participates in the student worker recognition in celebration of National Student Employee Week.

Other finalists for the Samford honor were Joy Al-Massaad, JaNeshia Harrell, Dan Hopper, Hannah Joiner, Haley Longino and Rebecca Parker.