Posted by Mary L. Wimberley on 2006-04-10

Ashley LaRae Martin of Odenville was named Samford University's 2006 student employee of the year during an April 7 ceremony.

A senior communication studies major, Martin works as a student assistant in Samford's Office of Freshman Life. She received a plaque presented by Samford president Thomas E. Corts and a $200 gift certificate. She is the daughter of Glenda and Frank Martin.

Nominees for the award were evaluated on reliability, quality of work, initiative, attitude, longevity, adaptability and uniqueness of contribution.

In nominating Martin for the award, Freshman Life director Dana Basinger cited her maturity, intelligence and attention to detail. "Even more important is Ashley's pleasant disposition at the office," wrote Basinger in her nomination letter, noting how critical the attributes are in an office that deals with many callers and visitors from outside the university. "Ashley has become an integral part of the team here in the Office of Freshman Life-so much that we will be quite lost when she graduates this May," said Basinger.

The competition was held in conjunction with National Student Employment Week. More than 1,000 Samford students work in on-campus jobs.

Other nominees for the Samford honor were Kristin Diane Calder, Sarah J. Fort, Brittany Gregg, Chandra Hein, Megan Marr, Sarah Ruth Spires and Brittany Stillwell.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.