ST. LOUIS (May 26, 2005) - Arch Coal, Inc. today announced that 11 recent high school graduates have been chosen as 2005 Arch Coal Scholars. The Arch Coal Scholars program honors outstanding scholastic achievement by the children of employees of Arch Coal and its subsidiaries. Each scholar will receive a $1,500 scholarship to an accredited college or university for up to four years.

"Arch Coal is pleased to have the opportunity to honor such an outstanding group of graduates," said Steven F. Leer, Arch Coal's president and chief executive officer. "These young scholars have distinguished themselves both inside and outside the classroom. They were chosen from a very impressive group of applicants and they are to be commended for their accomplishments."

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

This year's top Arch Coal Scholar, Shannon Thomas, received the Kendra Bradley Washburn Memorial Scholarship. Thomas is valedictorian of Wright High School's Class of 2005. She is an Army Reserve National Scholar and received the DAR American History Award.

"We consider the Arch Coal Scholars Program a wise investment in America's future," said Leer. "We're pleased to provide assistance to some of the best and brightest students in our principal operating areas as they pursue their goals for higher education."

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

Arch Coal is a long-time supporter of educational excellence. Since its inception in 1989, the Arch Coal Scholars program has provided four-year scholarships to more than 150 new high school graduates. Arch Coal also sponsors awards for teaching excellence in West Virginia and Wyoming.

St. Louis-based Arch Coal (NYSE:ACI) is the nation's second largest coal producer and mines low-sulfur coal exclusively. Through its subsidiary operations in West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah, Arch provides the fuel for approximately 7 percent of the electricity generated in the United States.

Editor's note: A photograph of each student is available upon request.