Silver was one of four North Carolina writers honored Friday, Nov. 14, at the annual joint meeting of the North Carolina Literary and Historical Association and the Federation of North Carolina Historical Societies. Awards were presented in four categories: fiction, nonfiction, poetry and juvenile literature.

The Ragan Old North State Award, established by the N.C. Literary and Historical Association, recognizes a nonfiction writer. Silver is the first writer to receive the award. The award is the successor to the Mayflower Cup, and is named for the late Sam Ragan, newspaper editor, Poet Laureate of North Carolina, and the first secretary of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources.

Silver, a Boone resident, teaches environmental history.

“I was stunned when I found out about the award,” Silver said. “It’s really a wonderful honor to win an award named for Sam Ragan who was a great N.C. writer and humanist.

“I hope receiving the award will help draw attention to Mount Mitchell,” Silver said. “It’s a place near and dear to a lot of North Carolinians and a place that needs help from people – in terms of taking care of the place environmentally.”