| Tiffany Larsen |
Ten Utah teachers are receiving ‘Golden Apple’ certificates from the Arch Coal Foundation, according to Erwin Sass, general manager of Dugout Canyon mine.
Sass said these 10 teachers scored very high marks in the 2006-2007 Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Awards program.
“These teachers came very close to receiving the Teacher Achievement Award,” said Sass. “The Golden Apple certificates recognize the strength of the teachers’ applications and encourage these fine teachers to apply again next year. Our judges, a blue ribbon panel of their peers, have told us that the scoring was very, very close and that it was difficult to choose just five for the Teacher Achievement Award.”
The 10 teachers receiving these awards includes Karen Bedont, Lighthouse Learning Center, Price; Terry Bikakis; Mont Harmon Junior High School, Price; Phyllis Oliveto Cox, Carbon High School, Price; Paula Espinoza-Wells, Pinnacle Canyon Academy, Price; Anna Lee Sorenson, Creekview Elementary, Price; Mark Alan Stuckenschneider, Pinnacle Canyon Academy, Price; Cathy Wilson, Helper Jr. High School/Youth in Custody, Price; Gloria Albrecht, Monroe Elementary School, Monroe; Jill Anderson, North Sevier Middle School, Salina; Jodi Anderson, Gunnison Valley Elementary School, Gunnison.
This was the first year for the Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Awards program in Utah. The program, sponsored by the Arch Coal Foundation, provides $2,500 personal cash awards to five classroom teachers who work in Carbon, Emery, Sanpete and Sevier counties.
Arch Coal owns the Sufco, Skyline and Dugout Canyon mines in the area.
The company also recently announced that Tiffany Larsen, of Wellington, was one of 11 recent high school graduates chosen as 2007 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.
“Our scholarship program has benefited students from the families of our employees since the formation of Arch Coal 10 years ago,” said Steven F. Leer, Arch Coal’s chairman and chief executive officer. “We’re pleased to support the continuing education of these students and are confident this year’s scholarship recipients will continue to provide leadership both inside and outside the classroom, ultimately making our communities better places to live.”
Larsen is a graduate of Carbon High School, Price, Utah. A daughter of Dwayne and Tina Larsen, she plans to attend Westminster College, Salt Lake City, majoring in accounting. Larsen’s father is employed at Arch’s Dugout Canyon mine, near Wellington.
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. Scholarships are renewed on the basis of grade point average.
Larsen earned a 3.991 grade point average and was named a Sterling Scholar. She placed second in the regional history fair and is involved in a variety of community service projects.
“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 the Arch Coal Foundation, including the independent selection process.