Gov. Mitch Daniels and the Indiana Humanities Council recently presented IUPUC student Tonja A.G. Couch with the 2009 Governor’s Award for Tomorrow’s Leaders. Couch was one of 12 young leaders to receive the award.

In his remarks before the awards presentation, Daniels called the 12 recipients a “delightful dozen.”

“The future of this state will depend entirely on people like these 12 young leaders,” he said.

Couch, 27, of Seymour is the program coordinator for Jackson County United Way. In her short time at United Way, Couch has developed a Web site, produced numerous print materials, and launched the Young Leaders program. Since the 2008 flood, she also has served as the lead agent for disaster recovery for Jackson County, raising more than $400,000 and coordinating more than 6,000 volunteer hours of disaster recovery.

As a member of Leadership Jackson County, Couch helped develop the Kidz Artz program, which encourages children to use art as a form of self-expression. Couch also volunteers with a philanthropic sorority and her church.

Established in 2003, the Governor’s Award for Tomorrow’s Leaders honors Hoosiers ages 19 to 29 who strive for and attain excellence as entrepreneurial leaders, volunteers and scholars. Each honoree receives $1,000 to be used as an educational scholarship or donated to a charity of the honoree’s choice.

“It is amazing how much these young leaders have done and the contributions they have made to their communities,” said Keira Amstutz, Indiana Humanities Council president and CEO. “This award is a recognition of what they’ve achieved, and also we hope a bit of encouragement to help each of them continue to lead and inspire the next generation of leaders.”

A distinguished jury of leaders from around the state selected the recipients.

Couch is studying Business at IUPUC.