Sep 16, 2013 3 min read

ROGERSVILLE – During halftime of Friday’s football game between West Greene and Jefferson-Morgan, Consol Energy Inc. announced its commitment of a $100,000 grant to support the West Greene School District’s Pioneer Project.

Launched in January 2013, the Pioneer Project is an $18 million capital plan to renovate the existing West Greene Middle-Senior High School, which was built in 1957, and construct a new elementary school, which will replace two older existing elementary schools.

The project is being implemented in two phases. The auditorium at the middle-senior high school is currently being renovated and is scheduled to be completed this fall. The kitchen is undergoing extensive renovations and is also on track to be completed in the next few days. Groundbreaking for the new elementary school took place in July 2013 and is projected to be completed by December 2014.

“We greatly appreciate the opportunity from Consol to continue the positive relationship and productive partnership that we have shared, which has benefitted our students for many years. It is only through such help by the West Greene community, local businesses and industries that our public school system can continue to provide high quality education and global connections,” said district Superintendent Thelma Szarell.

“Consol Energy has been particularly responsive to our needs. We are very appreciative of their generosity and support at this time,” she said.

“Consol Energy is committed to supporting the communities where we operate and where our employees reside,” said Laural Ziemba, director of community relations for Consol. “West Greene School District is home to our Bailey- Enlow Fork Mine Complex, including the BMX mine which is scheduled to come online next year, as well as a majority of our southwestern Pennsylvania gas operations. The Pioneer Project is important to the families, and especially the children, that reside in these communities and we are proud to be able to support an effort that will have an immediate positive impact.”

“Consol Energy and West Greene have shared the same backyard for generations. We are linked together through people and geography. Everyone at West Greene has ties to someone that works for Consol. We are a close-knit community and Consol is a very important thread that runs through it,” said Kelly Loughman, president of the West Greene Parent-Teacher Organization.

“The West Greene School District’s students will benefit tremendously from this generous grant. We are grateful that Consol recognizes that our greatest resource is our children,” she said.

Dubbed “Consol and Pioneers Lucky Friday,” in honor of the company’s commitment to the Pioneer Project, the West Greene School District invited Consol Energy to act as official host for the Pioneers’ first home football game of the 2013 season.

Concessions were provided courtesy of Consol Energy and in addition, Consol Energy employees worked alongside the football boosters at the concession stands, greeted fans at the entrance, and cheered on the Pioneers alongside students, parents, teachers and school administrators.