SOMERSET, Colo., Nov. 1, 2013 -- The Arch Coal Foundation has awarded $10,000 in grants to 25 Delta County teachers or teaching teams to support classroom initiatives that improve student performance. The announcement was made by Jim Miller, general manager of Mountain Coal Company's West Elk mine.

"We count on teachers to challenge, educate and mentor our children," said Miller. "We are especially pleased to recognize the teachers who participate in our grants program to improve student learning in Delta County."

Applicants were asked to provide their ideas in writing to a panel of judges composed of Mountain Coal personnel, educators and community members. Each teacher or team could apply for one grant of up to $500. Grant recipients are required to develop and execute their programs in the current school year, and provide feedback to the foundation so that successful ideas may be repeated in the future.

Examples of this year's selected projects include building a trebuchet for a pumpkin-tossing contest at Vision Charter Academy by teacher Wayne Wolf, engineering and designing a skateboard at Paonia High School by teacher Ben Graves, and building self-esteem by highlighting student achievement at Delta Middle School by teacher Dan Dunham.

A complete listing of the 25 grants is posted online http://www.archcoal.com/community/teachinggrants.aspx.

"Mountain Coal Company and the Arch Coal Foundation believe that the professionalism, imagination and dedication of our classroom teachers can bring new learning opportunities to their classrooms," Miller said. "Oftentimes, all that is needed to bring these ideas to fruition are modest grants like the ones we provide."

Last academic year, 24 grants were awarded to Delta County teachers. This is the seventh year of the Arch Coal Foundation grants in Delta County.

Arch Coal's Mountain Coal Company and its West Elk mine are located in Somerset, Colo. About 350 people are employed at the mine. U.S.-based Arch Coal, Inc. (NYSE:ACI) is one of the world's top coal producers for the global steel and power generation industries, serving customers on five continents. Its network of mining complexes is the most diversified in the United States, spanning every major coal basin in the nation. The company controls more than 5 billion tons of high-quality metallurgical and thermal coal reserves, with access to all major railroads, inland waterways and a growing number of seaborne trade channels. For more information, visit www.archcoal.com.