by Eric Yates 

It's one of those special honors that changes the way people see you – much like taking home an Academy Award or winning the Masters golf tournament. George Clooney smugly summed it up when he said, "Now, I'll forever be known as Oscar-winner George Clooney."

Recent PLNU journalism graduate Kelly Bennett can forever be known as Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, Kelly Bennett.

On Monday, April 18, it was announced that the San Diego Union-Tribune and Copley News Service (CNS) had won a Pulitzer Prize, the top award meted out in the field of journalism, for their coverage of former Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham. Their revealing stories uncovered and documented the corruption of Cunningham, who traded defense contracts for millions of dollars in cash and lavish gifts.

Bennett was an intern at the Washington, D.C. bureau of Copley News Service for four weeks in May and June 2005, when the initial report was penned by CNS writer Marcus Stern. Bennett lived on Capitol Hill and helped do some of the reporting on the follow-up articles that were published in the subsequent weeks and months. Using her Capitol press credential, she gathered financial disclosure forms on Cunningham and was noted as a special correspondent on Stern’s initial story. Those reports eventually led to Cunningham resigning from office, pleading guilty, and being sentenced to federal prison.

Though the Pulitzer board singled out Stern and CNS reporter Jerry Kammer for their "notable work," Washington, D.C. bureau chief for CNS George Condon said the prize is a staff award. In addition, Stern recently told PLNU journalism professor Dean Nelson, "Whatever boat I am in, [Kelly] is in there with me."

"Working with Marc and all of the members of that bureau in D.C., and experiencing the camaraderie of being on a team like that was a major shaping factor in my decision to pursue a career in journalism,” said Bennett.

Bennett added that though it was Stern's and other's reporting that really garners recognition, she's honored that he has "generously allowed me to share in it."

Bennett is the second Pulitzer Prize winner in PLNU's history, and the first to win as a student.