Eleven High School Graduates Chosen as 2011 Arch Coal Scholars

News provided by

May 26, 2011, 09:45 ET

ST. LOUIS, May 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Arch Coal Foundation today announced that 11 recent high school graduates have been chosen as 2011 Arch Coal Scholars.

The Arch Coal Scholars Program honors outstanding scholastic achievement by the children of employees of Arch Coal and its subsidiaries. Each of this year's scholars will receive a $2,000 annual scholarship to an accredited college or university for up to four years.

"We have been recognizing Arch Coal Scholars for 22 years," said Steven F. Leer, Arch Coal, Inc. chairman and chief executive officer. "We applaud the efforts of these new high school graduates and are pleased to help them take the next step toward their chosen careers."

The 2011 Arch Coal Scholars are:


Terrance Blair	Son of Terrance L. and the late Renia Jo Blair	Paintsville, Ky.
Jacob Brinkman	Son of Ed and Diane Brinkman	Florissant, Mo.
Karleen Cooper	Daughter of Jay and Gloria Cooper	Sundance, Wyo.
Kathleen Deschler	Daughter of Kevin and Pat Deschler	St. Louis, Mo.
Jaleesa Dumas	Daughter of Brian and Lori Dumas	Redmond, Utah
Tia Gent	Daughter of Ruben "Neal" and Katrina Gent	Davin, W.Va.
Kailey Hensala	Daughter of Greg and Lauri Hensala	St. Peters, Mo.
Amelia Johnson	Daughter of Arsley and Wanda Johnson	Virgie, Ky.
Brogan Johnson	Son of Mark and Alesha Johnson	Salina, Utah
Wylie Nelson	Son of Jess and DaShai Nelson	Ferron, Utah
Ryan Parker	Son of Joseph Dayle Parker and Lori Lynn Frazier	Rawlins, Wyo.

Arch Coal Scholars are selected on the basis of academic record, potential to succeed, leadership/participation in school and community activities, honors, a statement of education and career goals, work experience and an outside appraisal.

Brogan Johnson was named the Kendra Bradley Washburn Memorial Scholarship recipient and this year's top scholar. Johnson graduated from North Sevier High School as senior class president and earned Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout recognition.

"The Arch Coal Foundation continues to recognize Arch Coal Scholars because of its unwavering commitment to quality education," Leer said. "We consider the program a wise investment in our most promising youth, helping lay the foundation for a lifetime of success."

Scholarship America, the country's largest private sector scholarship and educational support organization, administers all aspects of the scholarship competition, including the independent selection process.

Since the Arch Coal Scholars program began in 1989, the program has provided four-year scholarships to more than 200 new high school graduates. The Foundation also supports educational excellence through its annual Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Awards Program in West Virginia, Wyoming and Utah and through an innovative teaching grants program in Delta County, Colo.

St. Louis-based Arch Coal (NYSE: ACI) is one of the world's largest and most efficient coal producers, with more than 160 million tons of coal sold in 2010. Arch Coal's national network of mines supplies cleaner-burning, low-sulfur coal to customers on four continents, including U.S. and international power producers and steel manufacturers.

The list of all 11 scholars can be found at Arch Coal's Web site: www.archcoal.com.

SOURCE Arch Coal, Inc.