Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. and Alliance Holdings GP, L.P. Announce Alliance Coal Scholarship Awards

Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (NASDAQ: ARLP) and Alliance Holdings GP, L.P. (NASDAQ: AHGP) this week announced scholarship awards to eight outstanding graduating seniors and recognition awards to three exceptional teachers.

The Alliance Coal Scholars Program each year honors scholastic achievement by the sons and daughters of employees, awarding $1,000 scholarships to its 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. Since the program’s founding in 1996, $168,000 has been awarded to 105 students, as well as $21,000 to teachers through the Alliance Coal Teacher Achievement Awards.

“We congratulate these outstanding scholars, their parents and teachers. We are pleased to recognize the achievements of these eight top-ranked students and to support their goals for the future,” said Brian L. Cantrell, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. “This program has proven to be an excellent way for Alliance to support the young leaders of our communities as they continue to pursue their education.”

The top three students, awarded $1,000 renewable scholarships, are:

Alexandra L. Glazebrook, graduate of Union County High School in Morganfield, Kentucky, daughter of James Scott Glazebrook, employed by River View Coal, LLC in Waverly, 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 Waverly, 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.

The scholars receiving $500 awards are:

Nicholas C. Hancock, graduate of Union County High School in Morganfield, Kentucky, son of John Hancock, employed by River View Coal, LLC in Waverly, 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.

The Alliance Coal Scholars Program also supports excellence in teaching through its Alliance Coal Teacher Achievement Awards – $500 awards to the elementary, junior-high, or senior-high teachers recommended by the top three scholarship recipients each year.

"In addition to recognizing the accomplishments of our students, Alliance is also pleased to reward the hard work and contributions of their teachers,” said Cantrell. “We congratulate teachers Donna Wolfe and James Groner, both of Union County High School in Morganfield, Kentucky, and teacher Denise Kimblern of 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.

About Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.

ARLP is a diversified producer and marketer of coal to major United States utilities and industrial users. As the nation's only publicly traded master limited partnership involved in the production and marketing of coal, ARLP is currently the fifth largest coal producer in the eastern United States with mining operations in the Illinois Basin, Northern Appalachian and Central Appalachian coal producing regions. ARLP operates nine mining complexes in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland and West Virginia and is also constructing a new mining complex in West Virginia. In addition, ARLP operates a coal loading terminal on the Ohio River at Mount Vernon, Indiana.

News, unit prices and additional information about ARLP, including filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, are available at http://www.arlp.com. For more information, contact the investor relations department of Alliance Resource Partners at (918) 295-7674 or via e-mail at investorrelations@arlp.com.

About Alliance Holdings GP, L.P.

AHGP is a limited partnership formed to own and control Alliance Resource Management GP, LLC, the managing general partner of ARLP, through which it holds a 1.98% general partner interest and the incentive distribution rights in ARLP. In addition, AHGP owns 15,544,169 common units of ARLP.

News, unit prices and additional information about AHGP including filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, are available at http://www.ahgp.com. For more information, contact the investor relations department of Alliance Holdings GP at (918) 295-1415 or via e-mail at investorrelations@ahgp.com.