*This story is part of our 2010-11 Mizzou in Review series.*

At age 22 most college students are still figuring out their place in the world. Junior Michael Miller had already found his – as a playwright.

Miller died in January after a life-long struggle with muscular dystrophy, but by that time he had already won multiple awards for his plays and sound design.

“He was the winner of the 2010 Undergraduate Creative Writing Award, the Kerr award, for his one act play, ‘Trouble the Mash’,” Director of Undergraduate Studies David Crespy told The Maneater in February. “He was a finalist for the same play in the KCACTF One Act Play Festival in 2010.”

Muscular dystrophy is a muscle loss disease and can impair motor skills. If Miller ever had trouble with a pen, it certainly did not show. His imagination and insight overpowered any physical impediment.

“And was he ever a playwright,” Crespy said. “He was incredibly prolific. And this is a kid who struggled with very frail use of his arms, his hands.”

Miller’s play “Spirit’s Traveling Salvation Show” was performed as part of the 2011 New Play Series. Crespy said it is the story of an ivy that seems to grow into the midst of a house.

Within the MU artistic community, Miller will continue to live on. As a prolific writer and playwright, it would be difficult for Miller to truly die – his plays will surely be performed and re-performed. It is certainly an inspiration to MU artists that a man, who had difficultly physically writing, could bypass this speed-bump and leave such an exceptional footprint.