2008 Woodie Awards
English Professor Wins Byler Award
Kevin Prufer Adds to His List of Accoplishments
Katherine Jones
Issue date: 4/3/08 Section: News
Kevin Prufer, professor of English and philosophy, has added another award to his collection. March 25, at a public ceremony in the Union Charno Room, Prufer received the Byler Distinguished Faculty Award.
Prufer received a letter of recommendation from the chair of the English Department, Cheryl Eason, as well as letters of recommendation from former students and others in his field.
Eason said she thinks he has been deserving of this award for many years, and added that Prufer is very talented and also a hard worker.
"There are lots of things that make him special," Eason said. "He has a tremendous amount of energy and he is very productive. But it's not all about him."
Eason said Prufer is an extremely generous person and that helps him to establish relationships within and outside of the University.
"He has a really good heart," Eason said. "His generosity extends to his students and far beyond their graduation."
Former student Rhiannon Dickerson, who is now graduating with a master of fine arts degree at the University of Iowa, said Prufer has always been able to interact with his students.
"Kevin has always really believed in his students," Dickerson said. "As a teacher he is able to balance criticism and encouragement. He thinks of his students as poets and writers, not as novices taking a course. He takes students seriously."
Prufer said he thinks he received this award for working hard to promote poetry in Warrensburg and beyond.
"[This award] is nice because it's an award from my peers here at the University," Prufer said. "They think what I'm doing is worthwhile."
This is one of many awards and accolades Prufer has earned. He has been named one of 15 Midwestern Writers to Watch, by The Kansas City Star and the Poetry Society of America awarded him the George Bogin Memorial Award in 2002, 2004 and 2006.
Eason said she thinks Prufer's world is about writing, poetry and helping others. She said he has an unusual character trait.
Prufer received a letter of recommendation from the chair of the English Department, Cheryl Eason, as well as letters of recommendation from former students and others in his field.
Eason said she thinks he has been deserving of this award for many years, and added that Prufer is very talented and also a hard worker.
"There are lots of things that make him special," Eason said. "He has a tremendous amount of energy and he is very productive. But it's not all about him."
Eason said Prufer is an extremely generous person and that helps him to establish relationships within and outside of the University.
"He has a really good heart," Eason said. "His generosity extends to his students and far beyond their graduation."
Former student Rhiannon Dickerson, who is now graduating with a master of fine arts degree at the University of Iowa, said Prufer has always been able to interact with his students.
"Kevin has always really believed in his students," Dickerson said. "As a teacher he is able to balance criticism and encouragement. He thinks of his students as poets and writers, not as novices taking a course. He takes students seriously."
Prufer said he thinks he received this award for working hard to promote poetry in Warrensburg and beyond.
"[This award] is nice because it's an award from my peers here at the University," Prufer said. "They think what I'm doing is worthwhile."
This is one of many awards and accolades Prufer has earned. He has been named one of 15 Midwestern Writers to Watch, by The Kansas City Star and the Poetry Society of America awarded him the George Bogin Memorial Award in 2002, 2004 and 2006.
Eason said she thinks Prufer's world is about writing, poetry and helping others. She said he has an unusual character trait.
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