William Comer, associate professor of Slavic languages and literatures, is the latest Kemper Award winner at Kansas University.

KU’s “surprise patrol” honored Comer on Wednesday, presenting him with a $5,000 award honoring excellence in teaching and advising.

Twenty KU professors will earn awards this year. The awards are funded by the William T. Kemper Foundation and the KU Endowment Association.

Awards will continue through Tuesday. Four professors at the KU Medical Center will also be honored.