After four years on the shelf, the Student Employee of the Year award has made a comeback at Northwestern. The Office of Financial Aid presented the award to Jen Bender Wednesday afternoon.

“I think I worked really hard and someone took notice,” said Bender, a Speech senior.

Mary Wegerzyn, work-study coordinator, said Bender revived the award because work-study students should be appreciated.

“It was something that should be started again,” she said. “I couldn’t be any happier about our renewed tradition.”

Work-study employers were encouraged earlier this year to submit nominations for work-study students who had been employed at least six months and had demonstrated “reliability, strong work ethic, high initiative and professionalism.”

Nominees were judged by a committee composed of a faculty member, a staff member and a student. They reviewed a total of 12 nomination letters from supervisors.

“They had a couple of weeks to look at the letters and make a very difficult decision,” Wegerzyn said Wednesday before presenting the award.

The director and senior assistant director of financial aid, the assistant provost of university enrollment, the work-study office staff, award nominees, and some of their friends and supervisors attended the casual ceremony in the financial aid office, 1801 Hinman Ave.

The nominees stood in front of the audience while Wegerzyn read the nomination letters submitted by employers.

For three years, Bender has worked for Dominic Missimi, the director of the Music Theater Program, who commended her for “single-handedly arranging important events involving visiting celebrities.”

“She is the finest work-study student I’ve hired in 20 years,” Missimi wrote.

Other nominees were commended for their smiles, punctuality and leadership skills.

“We appreciate this person more than can be expressed,” wrote Weinberg senior Caroline Eckert’s supervisor at the Graduate School.

Leanna Fawcett, a Speech senior, was praised for her “infectious enthusiasm for NU” when talking to prospective students and parents at the School of Speech.

“We wouldn’t be able to do the work without you guys,” said Carolyn Lindley, director of financial aid.

“I was a work-study student once, too,” said Lindley, “so I also know how beneficial it is to have some extra cash in your pocket when you’re in school.”

The Student Employee of the Year Award is sponsored by the Midwest Association of Student Employers and recognizes hard work and unique contributions.

The award also recognizes students at the regional, state and national levels. “In the past an NU student employee won regionals,” said Lindley.

Lindley, who has been working at NU for 26 years, attributes the great success of work-study employment to the quality of the student body at NU.