The Striler Group believes that there is nothing more important than family. We help honor Ed and Norine Koch by supporting an endowed scholarship for foster children who have not had the gift of family to rely on for love, support and guidance. These children are 18 years old and aging out of the foster system with little to no resources. A scholarship can make the world of a difference in getting these kids out of the likely cycle of poverty and into living a more productive life.
About The Ed and Norine Koch Scholarship Foundation
The Ed and Norine Koch Scholarship has been established through the Southeast Missouri University Foundation.
The scholarship was established with a gift from the children and grandchildren of the Kochs.
The recipient of this scholarship will be a student enrolled at Southeast Missouri State University who is an Angels’ Arms foster child, a foster child from the Southeast service area or a student enrolled from Southeast service area. Students must have a 2.5 minimum grade point average and financial need. The University Scholarship Committee will select the recipient. Ed and Norine Koch are the parents of 14 children, 33 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. They met when Mr. Koch was in fifth grade and Mrs. Koch was in fourth grade. They went on to eventually marry and remained together until Mr. Koch’s death in 2009.
Through all of the trials and financial challenges that came with raising a family of this size, Mr. and Mrs. Koch still managed to instill in their children a sense of thankfulness for their many blessings. Leading by example, they taught their children to be aware of those who were less fortunate and to help out whenever possible.
It is in that spirit and to honor their legacy that the Ed and Norine Koch Scholarship has been established by their children and grandchildren.