News & Media

Arch Coal Honors 10 West Virginia Classroom Teachers

May 30, 2017 at 4:45 PM EDT

ST. LOUIS, May 30, 2017 – Arch Coal, Inc. recently named 10 outstanding West Virginia classroom teachers as recipients of the prestigious Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Award. It is West Virginia's longest-running, privately sponsored teacher recognition program, now in its 28th year.

Each teacher was honored at a special assembly held in front of students, peers, family and friends at his or her individual school.

The 2017 Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Award recipients are:

Marcy Alwin Hedgesville Middle School Hedgesville
Alana Cunningham Wood County Christian School Williamstown
Chelsy Helmick Sherrard Middle School Wheeling
Karla Hilliard Spring Mills High School Martinsburg
Erica Pack Stratton Elementary School Beckley
Andrew Patrick Morgantown High School Morgantown
Catherine Shuman Greenmont Elementary School Vienna
Jeremiah Smallridge Buckhannon-Upshur High School Buckhannon
Mary Ann Testerman Mingo Central High School Delbarton
JoAnn White Wheeling Park High School Wheeling

"Outstanding student achievement begins with excellent classroom teaching," said John W. Eaves, Arch's chief executive officer. "These 10 individuals who were selected as this year's Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Award recipients represent the hundreds of dedicated classroom teachers across West Virginia who strive daily to enrich the lives of their students. We are pleased to recognize them for their professionalism, commitment to excellence and diligence to ensure that each student achieves their full potential. We commend each of these educators for this well-deserved recognition, and wish them the best in their future endeavors."

The public nominates teachers for the annual award, and a blue-ribbon panel of past award recipients selects the top 10 from among all those completing the comprehensive and rigorous application process. In addition to the public recognition, each teacher is presented with a personal cash award and a distinctive trophy.

The Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Awards are supported in program promotion by the West Virginia Department of Education, the West Virginia Education Association and the West Virginia Library Commission.

Arch Coal has a long history of supporting educational and community causes in West Virginia – a key operating state for the company. It also supports a teacher recognition program in Wyoming.

U.S.-based Arch Coal, Inc. is a top coal producer for the global steel and power generation industries. Arch operates a streamlined portfolio of large-scale, low-cost mining complexes that produce high-quality metallurgical coals in Appalachia and low-emitting thermal coals in the Powder River Basin and other strategic supply regions. For more information, visit www.archcoal.com.