May 22, 2023 - Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. this week announced the eight high school graduating seniors receiving college scholarships from the Alliance Coal Scholars Program. These impressive top-ranked students selected three teachers to receive teacher recognition awards.

Alliance Coal awarded the top three students with $2,000 renewable scholarships. The next five highest-ranking students received $1,000 scholarships. Since the program’s founding in 1997, $554,500 has been awarded in scholarships to 259 students. An additional $46,000 has been awarded to their exemplary teachers.

The selected scholars are Alliance Coal employees’ daughters or sons pursuing postsecondary education in college and vocational school programs. The Scholars Program recognizes the academic achievements of these graduates, as well as their contributions to the community and leadership in school activities.

“We’re happy to honor the 2023 scholars,” said Layne Herring, Vice President, Compensation and Benefits. “They’ve worked hard for all they’ve accomplished, and we’re proud to be able to encourage their higher education.”

In addition to applauding their academic success and supporting their continuing education, the Scholars Program also helps Alliance Coal identify and cultivate top talent for the future.

The top three students, awarded $2,000 renewable scholarships, are:

Brenna Russell, graduate of Carmi-White County High School in Carmi, Illinois; daughter of Christopher Russell, employed by Hamilton County Coal, LLC. Brenna will major in political science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Champaign, Illinois.

Cannon Sheffer, graduate of Union County High School in Morganfield, Kentucky; son of Bradley Sheffer, employed by River View Coal, LLC. Cannon will major in concrete industry management at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Max Woods, graduate of Augustine Christian Academy in Tulsa, Oklahoma; son of Monty Woods, employed by Alliance Coal, LLC. Max will major in mechanical engineering at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The scholars receiving $1,000 awards are:

Kaylee Evans, graduate of Hopkins County Central High School in Madisonville, Kentucky; daughter of William Evans, employed by River View Coal, LLC. Kaylee will major in elementary education at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Jaylyn Hogan, graduate of Castle High School in Newburgh, Indiana; daughter of Wesley Hogan, employed by Gibson County Coal, LLC. Jaylyn will major in pre-nursing at Indiana University Bloomington in Bloomington, Indiana.

Colleen McCollum, graduate of Lexington Catholic High School in Lexington, Kentucky; daughter of Gary McCollum, employed by Alliance Coal, LLC. Colleen will major in theology and literature at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Steubenville, Ohio.

Luci Stubblefield, graduate of Carmi-White County High School in Carmi, Illinois; daughter of Todd Stubblefield, employed by Gibson County Coal, LLC. Luci will major in nursing at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Jessica Tuttle, graduate of Galatia High School in Galatia, Illinois; daughter of James Tuttle, employed by Hamilton County Coal, LLC. Jessica will major in nursing at Kaskaskia College in Centralia, Illinois.

Alliance Coal realizes that teachers make a significant impact on their students’ growth. That’s why the $500 Alliance Coal Teacher Achievement Award is an important part of the Scholars Program. The top three scholarship recipients selected an elementary, junior-high, or senior-high teacher to receive this award.

“We’re grateful to all the teachers who have been there for these students and helped them on their future paths,” said Herring. “We extend our recognition and admiration to the three teachers selected by our top-ranked scholars.”

This year’s Teacher Achievement Awards go to: Leslie Kessler of Carmi-White County High School in Carmi, Illinois; Erin Merrill of Augustine Christian Academy in Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Peter Nikolai of Union County High School in Morganfield, Kentucky.

Scholarship America, the nation’s largest nonprofit, private-sector scholarship organization, administers all aspects of the Alliance Coal Scholars Program, including the selection process.