Award Honors Those Who Push for Education

Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran was presented the National Education Service Award by the Association of Community College Trustees and the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) on February 13 in Washington, D.C. The annual award honors a national leader who has made extraordinary contributions to national public policies and resources that support education, training and post-secondary learning. It is the first time a Mississippian has been selected for the award since 1985.

We are pleased to honor such an exceptional individual as Sen. Cochran, who has always been a friend to education

said Dr. Mary S. Graham, chair of the AACC board of directors. “Education is key to the growth of our economy and our country’s continued leadership on a global scale. Having someone like Sen. Cochran, who understands that fact and supports the role of community colleges within the nation’s education system, is crucial to our success.”

Cochran and His Work

First elected to the Senate in 1978, Sen. Cochran is currently serving his seventh term. He is chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, and he has spent many years as a leader on the committee, and also served as chair during the 109th and 114th Congresses.

A champion for community colleges and their students, Cochran has steadfastly worked to understand their priorities. Under his leadership, community colleges continue to benefit greatly from federal funding. The federal Pell Grant program receives more than $22 billion in annual appropriations. The Appropriations Committee also provides billions of dollars in funding for Perkins Career and Technical Education grants, federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal Work Study, state grants under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and grants supporting institutional aid under Titles III and V.

Senator Cochran has also been a leader in working across the aisle. In 2013, Cochran worked closely with Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) to help partially reinstate Pell Grant eligibility for “ability-to-benefit” students. Last year, he worked closely with Senators Blunt (R-MO) and Murray to reinstate the year-round Pell Grant, a landmark achievement.

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