On June 9, 2025, Ed Freel received the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award from the Delaware Association for the Education of Young Children (DEAEYC). Freel has dedicated his life’s work to public service, working extensively in both state government and education in his current role as a senior fellow at the Institute for Public Administration (IPA) in the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration, and previously as a University of Delaware professor and Delaware Secretary of State. Freel was one of several award recipients honored as a champion of early childhood education. In a letter addressed to Freel, U.S. Sen. Sarah McBride recognized his achievements by writing, "In championing the vital cause of early childhood education, you have helped to build the foundations of equity, opportunity  and well-being that every child deserves. You understand that when we invest in our youngest learners, we are not only supporting families today–we are shaping the future of our communities.” DEAEYC is an affiliate of the National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), a leading membership organization for those who work with and on behalf of children from birth to age eight.

Originally posted in UDaily's For the Record​​.​​​