Eleven High School Graduates Named Arch Coal Scholars
ST. LOUIS (June 8, 2006) – Arch Coal, Inc. today announced that 11 recent high school graduates have been chosen as 2006 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 chairman and chief executive officer. "These young scholars have distinguished themselves both inside and outside the classroom. We are delighted to provide assistance to some of the best and brightest students in our principal operating areas as they pursue their goals for higher education."
This year's Arch Coal Scholars are:
| Kyle Barnes | Son of Gary Barnes and Veronica Franco | Paonia, Colorado |
| Morgan Biggerstaff | Daughter of Ronnie and Shelia Biggerstaff | Whitesburg, Kentucky |
| Steven Case | Son of Steven and Sharon Case | Harold, Kentucky |
| Justin Dooley | Son of Donald and Janie Dooley | Wright, Wyoming |
| Toni Garlick | Daughter of Robert and Janeen Garlick | Fairview, Utah |
| Natalie Heath | Daughter of Sam and Sandra Brown | Axtell, Utah |
| Meghann Lucy | Daughter of Michael and Deborah Lucy | Gillette, Wyoming |
| Jared May | Son of Harold and Linda Cole | Swamp Branch, Kentucky |
| Christina O'Connell | Daughter of Steven and Valerie O'Connell | Hotchkiss, Colorado |
| Tricia Splichal | Daughter of Thomas and Chris Splichal | Gillette, Wyoming |
| Kendra Waters | Daughter of Tim and Tiffany Waters and Shelley Waters | Wright, Wyoming |
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, Natalie Heath, received the Kendra Bradley Washburn Memorial Scholarship. Heath is a recent graduate of Gunnison High School in Gunnison, Utah. As a senior, Heath was president of the National Honor Society, secretary of Youth City Council and a member of the drill team. She will attend Weber State University this fall where she plans to major in pre-med.
"Through the Arch Coal Scholars Program, we hope to encourage excellence among high school students and help lay the foundation for a lifetime of success," said Leer. "We consider these scholarships a wise investment in America's future."
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 160 new high school graduates. Arch Coal also supports teaching excellence through its annual Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Awards program 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 Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia, Arch provides the fuel for approximately 6 percent of the electricity generated in the United States.
Editor's note: A biography and/or photograph of each student are available upon request.