Benefits
Alliance offers an attractive benefit plan that is very competitive compared with both the coal industry and the job market as a whole. We feel that our benefit package is above the standards set by many of our union-dominated competitors. Our workforce is entirely union-free.
Our benefit plan was recognized for its innovation by the Southwest Benefits Administrators Association, receiving that group's Best in Class, Welfare Program Award. During 2008, our benefit plan was named among the top 10 percent of active employee benefit plans by Cammock’s Inc., an independent coal industry benefit survey organization. We also were honored as 2008 Business of the Year in Hopkins County, Kentucky, based on Alliance's job creation in the area and our contributions to the community.
We are proud to offer on-site medical clinics for our employees and their families, offering free care and over-the-counter medicines as well as assistance in managing and reducing their risk for certain illnesses. For more information on this program, click here.
We also support life-enhancement opportunities through educational initiatives, employee education reimbursement, matching gift programs, short-term and long-term bonus incentives, and a generous profit-sharing and savings plan. Our 401(k) plan has more features, greater employee deferral, and higher employer contribution levels than the vast majority of our peers in the coal industry and other similarly-sized companies.
In an effort to help our employees make the most of our benefit plan, we offer a web-based benefit-management system. This system, available at www.coalbenefits.com, allows any employee to review and make changes to his or her benefit coverage electronically. The system also provides employees with easy access to commonly used forms and relevant information about medical benefits, prescription drugs, spending accounts, family and career changes, and profit sharing and savings plans.
Alliance Coal Scholars Program
Each year, the Alliance Coal Scholars Program honors scholastic achievement by the sons and daughters of our employees, awarding $1,000 scholarships to the top three graduating high school seniors and $500 scholarships to the next five highest-ranking candidates. The $1,000 scholarships are renewable for up to three additional years. We believe that, by recognizing the achievements of these scholars and supporting their goals for the future, we are contributing to their continuing leadership, both in their pursuit of higher education and in their communities.We also believe that it is important to reward the hard work and contributions of the teachers who have inspired our highest-achieving scholars. The Alliance Coal Scholars Program supports excellence in teaching through its Alliance Coal Teacher Achievement Awards, which honor the elementary, junior-high, or senior-high teachers nominated by the top three scholarship recipients each year with a $500 award.
Since the Program’s founding in 1996, we are pleased to have awarded $168,000 to 105 outstanding graduating seniors and $21,000 to exceptional teachers.
We are delighted to present the 2010 Program scholarship and award winners:
$1000 renewable scholarship
Alexandra L. Glazebrook, graduate of Union County High School in Morganfield, Kentucky, daughter of James Scott Glazebrook, employed by River View Coal, LLC in Waverley, Kentucky. Alexandra will study Nursing at the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville, Indiana.
James E. Martin, graduate of Union County High School in Morganfield, Kentucky, son of William Mark Martin, employed by River View Coal, LLC in Waverley, Kentucky. James will study Nursing at the University of Evansville in Evansville, Indiana.
Heidi R. Stair, graduate of Claremore High School in Claremore, Oklahoma, daughter of Anita Stair, employed by Alliance Coal, LLC in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Heidi will major in BioMechanical Engineering at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
$500 scholarship
Nicholas C. Hancock, graduate of Union County High School in Morganfield, Kentucky, son of John Hancock, employed by River View Coal, LLC in Waverley, Kentucky. Nicholas will major in Agriculture at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Ericka A. Peterson, graduate of Gibson Southern High School in Ft. Branch, Indiana, daughter of Donna Vieke, employed by Gibson County Coal, LLC in Princeton, Indiana. Ericka will study Radiology at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Robert W. Reed, graduate of Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Kentucky, son of Timothy Fields, employed by Alliance Coal, LLC in Lexington, Kentucky. Robert will major in Chemistry at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky.
Patrick D. Tarrants, graduate of Hopkins County Central High School in Madisonville, Kentucky, son of Marcus Arnold, employed by Warrior Coal LLC in Madisonville, Kentucky. Patrick will major in Business and Accounting at Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky.
Denise L. Thompson, graduate of Mercer County Senior High School in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, daughter of Rose Thompson, employed by Alliance Coal, LLC in Lexington, Kentucky. Denise will major in Civil Engineering at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky.
Alliance Coal Teacher Achievement Awards
Donna Wolfe, Union County High School in Morganfield, Kentucky
James Groner, Union County High School in Morganfield, Kentucky
Denise Kimblern, Claremore High School in Claremore, Oklahoma
Scholarship America, the nation's largest private sector scholarship and educational support organization, administers all aspects of Alliance Coal Scholars Program, including the selection process.