Jackson Free Press

A national group has recognized Sen. Thad Cochran for advocating for volunteer programs. ON Tuesday, Cochran received the Edward M. Kennedy National Service Lifetime Leadership Award at the Friends of National Service awards reception.

Cochran is a longtime advocate for literacy programs, volunteerism and national service programs, a statement from the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service said. Cochran has served in the U.S. Senate since 1978.

The commission works in partnership with state agencies, nonprofit groups, and faith-based and community organizations statewide to promote community engagement and build volunteer capacity throughout the state.

Many of the service efforts the commission promotes involve K-12 education programs. At a U.S. Senate hearing last July, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan praised the recent efforts of Mississippi leaders.

"I think Mississippi is making as fast, if not faster progress, than any state in the country," Duncan said. "Mississippi, as you know, historically has really been maybe 50th in so many indicators. Particularly in the early grade literacy, I think you have gone from 50th as a state to 43rd. That's remarkable progress in a short amount of time."

Mississippi volunteers contributed the equivalent of more than $8.7 million in service to in-state communities in 2011, the commission estimates.

This was the second consecutive year that the Friends of National Service have honored a Mississippi official. Last year, then-Gov. Haley Barbour received the group's State Leadership Award.