Awards

Our guild is comprised of lovers of story, listeners, and especially tellers of stories from all genres.

CLOCK AWARD:

On the local level, each year we honor someone who supports storytelling with the clock award.

2024  June Riffle for her long-standing commitment to the guild as treasurer, and more than 20 years as the guild’s tandem telling duo known as Mountain Echoes. She continues to tell as a solo performer.

SPECIAL GUILD RECOGNITION:

In 2025 the guild recognized Bill Hairston, charter member, with a beautiful plaque for his faithful service as a board member.

At the state level, Bil Lepp, Adam Booth and Jamie Froemel have all been successful at winning and judging ‘Liars’ Contests.’ They have been joined in this competition by other guild members, including:

David Long who won second place in the Liars contest at the Vandalia Gathering in both 2022 and 2023, and first place in the Gray Barker Liars contest in Buchannon

In addition, other award winners include:

  • Bill Hairston: 2020 The Vandalia Award, West Virginia’s Highest Folklife Honor.
  • Bil Lepp: 2018 The Vandalia Award, West Virginia’s Highest Folklife Honor.
  • Adam Booth: 2022 West Virginia Governor’s Arts Award for Folk Artist of the Year.
  • David Long: second place in the West Virginia Writers contest in 2015 and first place in 2018.
  • Linda Durrett: True story in the ‘zine Traditions: The Ghost of Ruth Ann Musick and Other Local West Virginia Lore.
  • Francene Kirk: FSU Suarez Professor of Communication and Theatre Emerita City of Fairmont Arts and Humanities Award for Theatre EducationSoutheastern Theatre Conference Fringe Festival for one-person performance.

Recognition at the regional level:

  • Misty Mator: the 2025 Stone Soup Storytelling Festival New Voice Award and the 2025 Stone Soup New Voice Audience Favorite Award in Woodruff, SC.

Recognition at the national level:

Four members of our guild have been invited to perform on stage at Jonesborough, the mecca for storytelling in the United States. They are, Bil Lepp, Suzi “Mama” Whaples (retired), Adam Booth and Jamie Froemel.

National awards include:

  • Bil Lepp: 2011 National Storytelling Network Circle of Excellence Award
  • Adam Booth’s recordings: one Parents’ Choice Gold Award, two Parents’ Choice Silver Honors, four Storytelling World Awards; and a 2014 NSN grant for “Speak” Story Series in Shepherdstown
  • Jo Ann Dadisman: 2025 National Storytelling Network Regional Service & Leadership Oracle Award
  • David Long: honorable mention in the Saturday Evening Post Great American Fiction Contest for 2026