Will snapped some photos of his mom receiving the Torchbearers Award and the surprise Heart of Indiana award last week.

I think this photo is really cool.

Looks like they're in a scene from Phantom. 

Mrs. Koch looks quite happy being escorted by an honor guard. 

Known as "Indiana's Salute to Women," these awards are presented annually by the Indiana Commission for Women.

Here's an article about the award in the Evansville paper.

Mrs. Koch has made a point of telling our staff that back in 1948, she told her high school principal she wanted to go to college.

His reply? Why would you want to do that?

She's never forgotten that moment. And quietly, over the decades, she's helped countless young women to find the self-confidence to move ahead in their lives, to learn and to grow.