The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity (FREOPP) announced today that Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves will receive the Frederick Douglass Award, the organization’s highest honor, in recognition of his leadership in expanding educational opportunity and advancing equal access to prosperity through policy innovation. Governor Reeves will accept the award in person on November 21, 2025, at the annual Freedom and Progress Conference in Washington, D.C.

Under Governor Reeves’ leadership, Mississippi has become a national model for education reform and student achievement. Building on the state’s landmark literacy gains, his administration has strengthened early childhood education, expanded career and technical pathways, and supported parental choice in education. These policies have resulted in record-high reading proficiency rates, improved high school graduation outcomes, and increased opportunities for Mississippi students to succeed in both college and career. Beyond education, Governor Reeves has championed historic income tax cuts and regulatory reforms that have strengthened Mississippi’s economy and made the state one of the most business-friendly in the nation.

“Governor Reeves’ commitment to expanding opportunity through education exemplifies the spirit of the Frederick Douglass Prize,” said Akash Chougule, President of FREOPP. “At a time when too many policymakers are divided on how to help more Americans rise, Governor Reeves has proven that principles rooted in freedom, accountability, and opportunity, can deliver real results for working families. We’re proud to honor his leadership and the measurable progress Mississippi students have achieved under his watch.”

In accepting the award, Governor Reeves expressed his gratitude and reaffirmed his dedication to advancing opportunity for all Mississippians:

“I’m deeply honored to receive the Frederick Douglass Award from FREOPP. Mississippi’s education success story is proof that every child, no matter their background, can achieve great things when we set high expectations and give them the tools to succeed. I share this recognition with our teachers, parents, and students who are showing the nation what’s possible.”

The Freedom and Progress Conference, hosted annually by FREOPP, brings together leading policymakers, scholars, and innovators to highlight solutions that expand opportunity through freedom. This year’s conference will focus on the future of economic mobility, education reform, and the policies driving upward mobility in America.

About FREOPP

The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity (FREOPP) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank dedicated to expanding economic opportunity to those who least have it, using the principles of individual liberty, free enterprise, technological innovation, and pluralism. Learn more at www.freopp.org.

Learn more about the conference here. We hope you’ll join us in Washington to cover one of the most timely and consequential gatherings on the future of American freedom and prosperity.

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Governor Tate Reeves of Mississippi to Receive FREOPP’s Highest Honor, the Frederick Douglass Award, at Freedom and Progress 2025 Conference November 21 in Washington, D.C.