Cassie Sizemore, a senior communication studies major from Montgomery, Ala., has been named Samford University's 2012 Student Employee of the Year.

Sizemore, who works for Leading Edge Institute through Samford's Community Work Service Program, was recognized at a ceremony Thursday, April 12.  She received a $200 cash prize and other gifts from Samford president Dr. Andrew Westmoreland, and will now compete for regional honors in a program sponsored by the National Student Employment Association.

In her job with Leading Edge, a leadership program for college women, Sizemore's responsibilities include  internal communication, communication with board members, some project management, supervision of interns, managing alumni data and assisting with event planning.

"She is consistent and reliable, taking every task seriously," wrote her nominator and supervisor, Leading Edge executive director Suzanne Martin. "She takes initiative, is professional, and communicates well. She can be depended on to complete each task given her, working extra if necessary."

"Cassie's strong work ethic and work quality make her most deserving of Student Employee of the Year."

Finalists for the Samford honor were:  Abby Anderson, Owen Anderson, Emmanuel Antwine, Melissa Belflower, Rebekah Brooks, Hayden Gunter, Hilliary Hallman, Jessica Harden, Corey Jackson, Kelly Liu, Hiba Matalka, Amanda Sundberg, Logan Williams and Anna Worth.

The Samford student employee recognition was in celebration of National Student Employee Week.  During the 2011-2012 academic year, more than 900 Samford student employees have worked on campus in a variety of areas and at off-campus non-profit agencies through the Federal Work Study/Community Work Service program.