CHARLESTON —Gov. Joe Manchin has announced that he has nominated two students and two teachers to attend the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Summer Math/Science and Technology Institute program to be held at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Tennessee. He also nominated four additional students as alternates in case any additional vacancies open up from other Appalachian states participating in the program. ARC, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, will provide a two-week summer institute that will focus on hands-on learning at the research laboratory under the guidance of ORNL research scientists.

ARC sponsors this program for selected students from distressed counties in the 13 states of Appalachia. Distressed counties are so designated as a result of certain economic conditions. In FY 2009, West Virginia has 13 distressed counties. Selection of the participants is coordinated through the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts.

“This is an opportunity of a lifetime for both the students and the teachers,” Gov. Joe Manchin said. “ARC is a wonderful partner to the Appalachian states, and we are very appreciative of their efforts to help us improve the quality of life of West Virginians.”

The program runs from July 11 through July 24, 2009, in Tennessee. The students and teachers selected are:

• Tug Valley High School: Karah Sheppard (student),

• Wyoming East High School: Isaac Snuffer (student),

• Wyoming East High School: Michael Stover (teacher),

• Roane County High School: Donald Williams (teacher).

The alternates selected are:

• Lincoln County High School: Dustin May (student), Morgan Scarpellini (student), Ted Rakes, Jr. (student), Codie Blankenship (student).