This is probably lacking in some necessary error trapping, but it does the
minimum:

Sub demo()
   Dim myString As String
   Dim xlApp As Excel.Application
   Dim xlSheet As Excel.Worksheet

   On Error GoTo NoExcel
   Set xlApp = GetObject(, "Excel.Application")
   Set xlSheet = xlApp.Worksheets("Program")

   On Error GoTo 0
   myString = xlSheet.Cells(xlApp.Selection.Row, 1).Text
   MsgBox myString

   Set xlSheet = Nothing
   Set xlApp = Nothing
   Exit Sub
NoExcel:
   MsgBox "Excel is not running or sheet Program not found."
End Sub

Notice that you _do not_ have to (nor should you) activate the Excel window
and then reactivate the Word window. VBA is perfectly capable of
transferring (not copying, which implies using the clipboard) data from one
document or program to another without those contortions.

See http://www.word.mvps.org/FAQs/InterDev/ControlXLFromWord.htm and
http://www.word.mvps.org/FAQs/InterDev/ControlWordFromXL.htm for more help.