LaLonde receives his award from Florida Press Club President Jennifer Cason.

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Marco Eagle writer/photographer Roger LaLonde has scored another state press award.

His in-depth coverage of the demise and funeral of Eric Plancher — a University of Central Florida and former Lely High School football player whose sickle cell disease was responsible for his collapsing and dying while training — earned a first place for serious feature writing from the Florida Press Club.

It is LaLonde’s third FPC award, and also adds to a string of similar achievements by the Eagle over the past five years.

LaLonde also won a New York Times award when the Eagle was owned by the organization, for his series on school safety at the time of the Columbine School shootings.

While he was managing editor for the Eagle, the paper won the Florida Press Club General Excellence Award, the Best 9-11 coverage and reporters won awards in every class of competition.

Fellow writer/photographer Quentin Roux has won two awards for business writing, one for serious column writing and three for critical writing, while Presentation Editor Nadine Ouillette has achieved numerous first places in contests since joining the paper in 2001.

They include overall graphic design, general excellence, front page design, graphic design, and front page make-up.

Commenting on LaLonde’s latest recognition, Eagle Editor Bill Green said, “We’re very proud of Roger’s achievement. No one works harder or cares more about what he does.”