. >>> the sophie kerr prize is the largest student literary award in the country. one student from washington college receives the prestigious honor. gigi barnett introduces us to this year's year's recipient. >> reporter: over-the-last four years, this was second home for katie mannion. >> it's almost a love-hate relationship. because i could get a great idea. and i might not be sitting down somewhere that i could write it down. >> reporter: but this week, in new york, mannion's stories capture said the attention of judges for the sophie kerr prize. and the winner of the 2012 sophie kerr literary prize is cancatherine mannion. >> reporter: she walked away with the prestigious award, beating out 35 other writers. >> people tell me in my reaction, oh, you looked so calm. and then you looked so shocked. and you seemed so surprised. and i can say i was. >> reporter: the award's namesake, sophie ker, was born and raised on the eastern shore, not far from washington college. she became a prolific and well paid writer and l. the bulk of i her estate to the college, which

. >> the winner of the sophie kerr literary prize is katherine mannion. >> reporter: katherine mannion of clarkville, maryland, wins just over $58,000. her literary portfolio, chosen from 35 others at washington college. >> these finalists, i have had a creative writing class with each one of them and i can speak for the tremendous amount of talent i'm a part of. >> it was from a gift from sophie kerr, a writer who died in 1965, leaving the bulk of her estate to the college. catherine mannion thanked her family for their support. >> to my family and friends. mom, casey, dad, for always encouraging me to continue writing and to win the sophie. >> reporter: and katherine will receive the annual -- the actual award, rather, during washington college's graduation this sunday. big honor, vic. >> good for her. very soft spoken and very well deserved. mannion is a graduate of notre dame prep in towson. >>> it's graduation season. >>> let's take a look at the weather. it's going to be great around the weekend. sunday. all of the activities in preakness. 81 now. 39% humidity. west winds at 6. b

. >>> big congratulations to the howard county maryland student who won the sophie kerr prize.shington college announced the winner last night. katherine manyon will receive more than $58,000 at her commencement ceremony this weekend. the prize is the largest under graduate literary prize in the nation. it was established after the writer, sophie kerr passed away in 1965 and left part of her estate to that college. >> look at that smile. >> congratulations. >>> still ahead, a home that is not meant for people who like to keep their lives private. you don't want to miss this. >> as we head to break, a legendary actress, who is coming to the nations capital, there she is, betty white. she will be in dc visiting the smithsonian. before heading over to the national zoo to see the pandas, elephants and other animals at the zoo. she will sign copies of her book, betty and friends my life at the zoo. white said her parents were animal nuts long before she was born. isn't she great?  -dad, why are you getting that? -that's my cereal. is there a prize in there? oh, there'

. >> reporter: the literary prize was established by a gift from sophie kerr, a writer who died in 1965, leaving the bulk of her estate to washington college. katherine mannion took the prize based on a short story and a few exermts. she -- excerpts. she thanked her family and friends. >> to my family and friends. mom and dad, always encouraging me to continue writing and to win the sophie. >> reporter: and katherine will receive the actual award during washington college's graduation this sunday. she was so nervous. i love her. you know what? i love what she said. i'm a writer, not a speaker. right? congratulations. >> good for her. >>> let's take a look at the weather. looks like it will be really nice this weekend. and sunday as well. 82 now. but look how dry it's gotten. humidity down to 32%. west winds at 5. barometer holding steady. come back and take a look at the weekend and the end of the week beautiful forecast after this. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, >>> breaking news to report to you. there's been a train accident in baltimore county. let's go to sky eye chopper 13. captain mike per

. >>> the sophie kerr prize., one student from washington college receives the prestigious honor. gigi barnett introduces us to this year's recipient. >> reporter: over the years this was like a second home for katie. and where she received her inspiration for collection of short stories. >> i could get a great idea. >> reporter: but this week in new york, stories captured the attention of the judges for the sophie ker prize. >> the winner is katherine mannion. >> reporter: she walks away with the prestigious awards, beating out 35 other prestigious writers. >> she said, you looked so calm and so shocked. you seemed so surprised. i can say i was. >> reporter: the award's namesake, sophie ker, was born and raised on the eastern shore, not far from washington college. she became a prolific and well- paid writer and left the bulk of her estate to the college, which created the prize in kerr's honor. now, mannion receives $55,000 with the opportunity to focus on her work and not a job search. >> this gives me some so