CBS journalist, alumnus to speak at Commencement on Friday, May 11

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CBS News correspondent David Begnaud, a University of Louisiana at Lafayette alumnus, will speak during UL Lafayette’s Spring 2018 Commencement.

He will address graduates during the General Assembly to be held in the Cajundome at 11 a.m. on May 11.

Begnaud’s broadcasts from Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria struck the U.S. territory in September 2017 earned him the George Polk Award in Public Service, one of the most prestigious journalism awards. Walter Cronkite, Peter Jennings and Bob Woodward are past winners.

Begnaud was cited for broadcasts that detailed “destruction caused by Hurricane Maria and the inability of federal and territorial officials to provide timely and effective aid to the islanders. Begnaud and his crews brought mainland viewers firsthand accounts of the suffering and loss of life and property.” Hurricane Maria killed 64 residents and caused an estimated $100 billion worth of damage.

One of his early assignments for CBS was reporting on the Grand 16 Theater shooting in July 2015 in Lafayette. Three people, including the gunman, died. Another nine people were injured.

A 2005 UL Lafayette graduate, Begnaud joined CBS News in August 2015 as a Miami-based correspondent and was relocated to the Network’s Dallas bureau in January 2017. His reporting has been featured across CBS News broadcasts and platforms including “CBS This Morning,” the "CBS Evening News," "48 Hours," "CBS Sunday Morning,"  and CBSN, CBS News' 24/7 streaming news service.

Begnaud covered national breaking news before joining CBS News. Previously, he was a Los Angeles-based reporter for Newsbreaker at ORA TV, a social media platform. He was also a regular contributor to Entertainment Tonight. He worked at KTLA in Los Angeles from 2010 to 2012 and KOVR in Sacramento from 2007 to 2010.

Begnaud’s career began as a teen reporter for local CBS affiliate KLFY-TV 10. He ultimately became a weekend anchor at the station.

Learn more about Spring 2018 Commencement: https://commencement.louisiana.edu/