Jaroslav Peprník awarded British Empire Medal

Jaroslav Peprník, a prominent Czech anglist and Americanist, has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM). The prestigious state honor, bestowed by King Charles III, recognizes his long-term contributions to the development of Czech-British relations.

A co-founder of the English Studies department at Palacký University, Professor Peprník has been associated with the university's Faculty of Arts since 1954. His career has focused on pedagogy, the creation of textbooks, and academic research within the field of English language and Anglophone studies.

Otakar Fojt of the British Embassy in Prague noted the rarity of this honor for foreigners, stating that only twenty-five people worldwide received the BEM last year. Peprník is noted as a unique recipient in Czech history.