Carissa DeVoss, a senior at Dodge City High School, has won the Anna Kathleen Walsh English Scholarship at Wichita State University. The scholarship is worth approximately $13,900 per year for four years, or $55,600. It is the largest English scholarship awarded at WSU.

DeVoss plans to major in English beginning this fall, emphasizing creative writing and theater.

“Writing has always been my No. 1 passion, because in writing, anything can happen and nothing is impossible,” DeVoss wrote in her scholarship application.

Her high school activities include drama club, Class Act Chorale and National Honors Society. She has also held lead roles with the Depot Theater Company, a community theater.

DeVoss will be honored at an on-campus announcement at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 27, in WSU’s Rhatigan Student Center, Room 265.

Scholarship background

Kathleen Walsh and her father, J. Martyn Walsh, shared a passion for the English language and co-wrote the Plain English Handbook, at one time the best-selling grammar handbook in the nation. Kathleen was a leader in state and national education and was elected to the Kansas Teacher’s Hall of Fame. She died Jan. 8, 2013, at the age of 105.

The Walsh scholarship is awarded without regard to financial need and is used to cover full tuition, fees, books and the equivalent of on-campus room and board for a minimum of 12 hours each semester.