ST. LOUIS, Sept. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Arch Coal Foundation officially kicked off its popular Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Awards program today in two states where Arch has significant mining operations – West Virginia and Wyoming. The announcement was made by Deck S. Slone, senior vice president of Arch Coal, Inc., and president of the Arch Coal Foundation.

"Our priority at Arch Coal is to enrich the communities that we call home," Slone said. "That begins with our unwavering support of teachers and students. We embrace the concept that Teachers Change Lives and believe teaching excellence is key to preparing today's students for tomorrow's leadership positions. Arch is proud to honor those teachers who have achieved outstanding success in the classroom."

The Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Awards Program is the longest-running, privately sponsored teacher recognition program in both West Virginia and Wyoming. It provides 10 recipients in each state with a $3,500 personal cash award as well as widespread recognition. Program nominations, which can be made online at archteacherawards.com, will close Jan. 4, 2016, and recipients will be named in the spring. Nomination forms also are available in schools and public libraries throughout each state.

"The Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Awards program is unique," Slone said. "The public nominates these special teachers, who then must complete a rigorous application focusing on the teaching profession and their personal teaching philosophy, as well as their professional development and educational achievements. An independent, blue-ribbon panel of past recipients then judges the applications and selects the 10 winners."

Previously, the Arch Coal Foundation announced it also will continue to underwrite its teacher grants program in Delta County, Colo. More information about all of the foundation's education support programs is posted online at archcoal.com/community/education.

St. Louis-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. For more information, visit archcoal.com.

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SOURCE Arch Coal, Inc.

Logan Bonacorsi, (314) 994-2766