The Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information presented The Day Columnist David Collins with The Stephen A. Collins Memorial Freedom of Information award Tuesday at its annual luncheon in Hartford.

Our Collins is collecting two awards within a month. His first shiny new plaque says he was recognized, “For His Pursuit of Open And Accountable Government in the Highest Tradition Of A Free and Vigorous Press.”

Collins will receive a second award ― this one from the Connecticut Foundation for Open Government ― at a ceremony in November. He was selected for both awards independently of one another by two groups that share a noble mission.

We couldn’t agree more with the CCFOI and CFOG that he stands out as a champion of open records.

Back to the other Collins for a moment. Stephen A. Collins was an editor of the Danbury News-Times who was instrumental in the state's passage of the Freedom of Information Act of 1975. The set of laws guarantees the public access to government records and meetings. FOIA is the Holy Grail for journalists when it comes to reporting on town and state agencies. The federal government has its own FOIA, enacted in 1967.

The Day's David Collins has used the FOIA often to find out when government is not performing properly on behalf of We the People. His columns on topics such as the State Pier project, Mystic Oral School development, and – my personal favorite – shoreline access are consistently among the most read stories we publish. And his stories have impact. In presenting the award Tuesday, CCFOI Vice President Tom Scheffey said Collins' columns “have triggered two FBI investigations and a couple of ongoing grand jury investigations.”

Scheffey said Collins has been a top performer in FOI stories for the last couple of years. When denied public information, journalists file complaints with the Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission, and, if they can’t be resolved, argue them before a panel of commissioners.

The FOI staff is generous in sharing its knowledge of the law and walking participants through the complaint and hearing processes, but for the lone journalist confronting government officials and their lawyers, it can feel like a “David vs. Goliath” setup.

Our David is not intimidated.

“He's been up against battalions of expert attorneys and courageously gotten the word out – a journalist who has fought the good fight,” Scheffey said Tuesday.

You’re familiar with Collins’ sometimes scathing, but always eloquent take downs of government missteps if you read The Day. For more than 35 years, he has practiced his vocation ― as a reporter, editor and now, a columnist ― at our mighty little independent news agency in New London. He occasionally writes a kinder, gentler column, and in person, he truly is kind, funny, and only rarely cantankerous. He’s an invaluable member of our staff.

In the newsroom, Collins’ voice carries as he wrangles information out of reluctant sources. We love hearing his phone conversations and are inspired by his passion for exposing corruption and cover-ups.

Collins writes opinion pieces, even though he works in the newsroom and not the editorial department. That's a distinction we think some readers don't understand. He gets to tell readers what he thinks, while reporters must present news objectively.

Join me in celebrating Collins, whose “good fights” help make our region a better place.

This is the opinion of Engagement Editor Karen Florin. Reach her at k.florin@theday.com or (860) 701-4217