Laurie Hekman, managing editor of the Herald and graduating senior, won the Digging Deeper category of the Association of Christian Collegiate Media Contest.

Her winning article entitled “CU alumnus pleads guilty to larceny,” was one of a series of articles written about the case of Luke Bronkema, a CU student who graduated in May 2007. Bronkema, a former CU basketball player, pleaded guilty in connection with $35,000 worth of electronic equipment stolen from Cornerstone University’s campus.

Hekman heard about the contest from Alan Blanchard, associate professor of journalism. It sounded interesting and the Christian focus caught her attention, so she entered.

 “I didn’t know if I had anything that had a Christian focus and then I thought ‘my Luke Bronkema series,’” Hekman said.

The Digging Deeper Category required investigative reporting, and Hekman realized that her series would fit the bill.

“I put a lot of hard work into those articles,” she said. “I had to go to a courthouse downtown to go to a hearing, and I followed Luke’s lawyer out of the building, into the elevator and started asking him questions.”

As she assembled the facts, Hekman said a Cornerstone debate was going on about whether or not the article should be written at all.

“People didn’t want us to write it,” Hekman said.

But despite the opposition, she continued.

“I think the debate was about presenting truth with love,” Hekman said. “And I hope that that is what happened with these articles.”

The managing editor said that this story, and the other, is special because of the redemption aspect.

“Cornerstone played a loving role.” Hekman said. “Even though they weren’t in charge of the outcome, they tried to show him as much grace as was possible.”

The ACCM contest isn’t the first award for Hekman. She won a scholarship from the Michigan Press Association in January.

But despite her award-winning journalism, Hekman’s life goal is not to be a news reporter. She is an English major who wants to write books. Her heart lies within a memoir that she devotes four hours a week to writing.

Hekman said that God placed the completion of this book heavily on her heart and somehow she crams a goal of ten pages a week into her busy schedule.

“That’s my love, and if I don’t write it, I will die,” Hekman said.

She prefers to not reveal the details of the book, but said that she has known for years that God wants her to be one of his spokeswomen.

“I feel like this book will be a voice of truth and an advocate for people who are lost and who just can’t speak for themselves.” Hekman said.