by Kelly Rogge, KCKCC
Plans are underway to remember a former Kansas City Kansas Community College faculty member who was known for his love of poetry and for encouraging other poets and fiction writers.
This is the fifth year for the Phillip Miller Memorial Scholarship Reading. Miller taught English composition and literature at KCKCC as well as creative writing and learning center courses from 1976 until he retired in 2002.
He also co-created the Riverfront Reading Series in the mid-1980s, which still continues and is now sponsored by a six-member committee, led by poet Phyllis Becker. The reading series highlights poetry and fiction readings and are on the second Friday of each month. For more information about the series, visit www.riverfrontreadings.com.
This year’s memorial scholarship reading is at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, at the Writer’s Place, 3607 Pennsylvania Ave. in Kansas City, Mo.
The reading will be open microphone with the themes of love in all its different forms (or its opposites such as woes of love or falling out of love). Participants will have the opportunity to read two poems or one long poem or short prose piece. In addition, they can choose to read a poem of Miller’s, who was an accomplished and well-published poet. If the event is canceled due to inclement weather, it will be rescheduled for 8 p.m. Feb. 28.
Miller’s works are online or in his books, such as “Branches Snapping or Hard Freeze,” (available through Amazon). Prospero’s Bookstore, 1800 W. 39th St. in Kansas City, Mo., is another resource to find Miller’s pieces.
Along with the reading event, there will be a silent auction and refreshments. Donations collected will go toward the Phillip Miller Scholarship fund at KCKCC. The $500 scholarship is awarded to one English or creative writing student in the Humanities Department at KCKCC each year.
If interested in participating in the Phillip Miller Memorial Scholarship Reading, send an email to Rhiannon Ross at [email protected]. Readers can also register the day of the event.
If unable to attend the scholarship reading event, donations to the Phillip Miller Scholarship Fund can be mailed to KCKCC Foundation, Attn: Dawanna Fangohr, 7250 State Ave., Kansas City, Kan. 66112. Checks should be made payable to the KCKCC Endowment and write “Phillip Miller Scholarship” in the Notes section.
Kelly Rogge is the public information supervisor at KCKCC.
