Sixteen High School Graduates Chosen as 2012 Arch Coal Scholars
ST. LOUIS, May 24, 2012 -- The Arch Coal Foundation today announced that 16 recent high school graduates have been chosen as 2012 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.
"This is the 23rd class of Arch Coal Scholars," said John W. Eaves, president and chief executive officer of Arch Coal, Inc."We congratulate these recent high school graduates on their scholarship and leadership. Now, we look forward to seeing their continued success in college as they prepare for their careers."
The 2012 Arch Coal Scholars are:
| Brittany Barnes | Daughter of John and Paula Barnes | Norton, Va. |
| Paige DeHart | Daughter of Greg and Vicki DeHart | Foster, W.Va. |
| Shaylie Gordon | Daughter of Jed and Leslie Gordon | Salem, Utah |
| Lydia Hager | Daughter of Philip and Leah Hager | Hamlin, W.Va. |
| Kristen Hatfield | Daughter of Stephen and Mary Hatfield | Charleston, W.Va. |
| M'Kayla Hughes | Daughter of Larry and Kimberly Hughes | Williamson, W.Va. |
| Colton Kesler | Son of Gale and Shelly Kesler | Glenwood, Utah |
| Chambrie Lawrence | Daughter of Dennis and Diana Lawrence | Wright, Wy. |
| Alayna Leaming | Daughter of Gary and Lisa Leaming | Redmond, Utah |
| Brevan Marlow | Son of Steve and Pam Marlow | Centralia, Ill. |
| Natalie Robinette | Daughter of Kelly and Rhonda Robinette | Canada, Ky. |
| Mac Slone | Son of Deck and Amy Slone | St. Louis, Mo. |
| Abigail Sutton | Daughter of Michael and Julie Sutton | Petersburg, Ill. |
| Claire Thiedke | Daughter of William and Nancy Thiedke | St. Louis. Mo. |
| Cameron Thomas | Son of Geoff and Gerri Thomas | Wright, Wyo. |
| Caitlin Woolum | Daughter of David and Darlene Woolum | Canada, Ky. |
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.
Cameron Thomas was named the Kendra Bradley Washburn Memorial Scholarship recipient and this year's top scholar. Thomas graduated from Wright High School, where he was a salutatorian at graduation. He also achieved Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout recognition and was a member of the National Honor Society, cross country, track and field and drama teams. Thomas earned recognition as a state finalist in the Wendy's High School Heisman program.
"Arch Coal and the Arch Coal Foundation have a longstanding commitment to education in many forms -- from programs that benefit our communities to those that recognize the children of employees," Eaves said."The Arch Coal Scholars Program recognizes and rewards outstanding young students. We believe the scholarships are an important investment in the future of tomorrow's leaders."
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, Inc. is a top five global coal producer and marketer, with 155 million tons of coal sold in 2011. Arch is the most diversified American coal company, with more than 20 active mining complexes across every major U.S. coal supply basin. Its core business is supplying cleaner-burning, low-sulfur thermal and metallurgical coal to power generators and steel manufacturers on five continents. In 2011, Arch continued to lead the U.S. coal industry in safety performance and environmental compliance among large, diversified producers.