Eleven High School Graduates Chosen as 2011 Arch Coal Scholars

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:

                       Son of Terrance L. and the late Renia
    Terrance Blair     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
                       Daughter of Ruben "Neal" and Katrina
    Tia Gent           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
                       Son of Joseph Dayle Parker and Lori
    Ryan Parker        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.