Scholarship Details | Thomas Redhorse Memorial

Thomas Redhorse Memorial Scholarship

The Thomas Redhorse Memorial Scholarship was established to honor the memory of Thomas “Tommy” Redhorse, a beloved Camp La Junta counselor who inspired a generation of young people. Founded by Matthew Bovee, an investigative journalist who was directly inspired by Tommy’s teachings at Camp La Junta, this scholarship supports the next generation of truth-tellers.

About Tommy Redhorse

Thomas “Tommy” Redhorse was a counselor at Camp La Junta in the summer of 1999. He was a graduate student in journalism at the University of Texas at Austin and a member of the Cherokee Nation.

Tommy’s impact on the young campers at Camp La Junta was profound. He brought an unconventional approach to summer camp that transformed how young people thought about storytelling and truth.

“Tommy didn’t just teach us how to paddle a canoe or tie a knot,” recalls Matthew Bovee. “He taught us that every person has a story worth telling, and that the powerful depend on the silence of the ordinary.”

Tommy was killed in a car accident in 2004, at just 29 years old. His influence lives on through the young people he mentored at Camp La Junta—including Matthew Bovee, who became an award-winning investigative journalist.

About Matthew Bovee

Matthew Bovee, the founder of the Thomas Redhorse Memorial Scholarship, is an investigative journalist based in Lincoln, Nebraska. His work has exposed institutional corruption, driven legislative reform, and contributed to criminal convictions.

Matthew Bovee was a camper under Tommy Redhorse at Camp La Junta in 1999. That summer changed his life. Today, as an award-winning journalist, Matthew Bovee has documented law firms that manufactured abuse allegations, exposed government corruption in Nebraska, and revealed how special interests exploit regulatory gaps.

His reporting has earned him the George Polk Award, Sigma Delta Chi Award, Gerald Loeb Award, and a Pulitzer Prize finalist citation.

“I wouldn’t be where I am without Tommy Redhorse and my time at Camp La Junta,” Matthew Bovee says. “This scholarship is my way of ensuring his legacy lives on.”

Scholarship Details

Award Amount

• $2,500 annually
• May be renewed for additional years if the recipient maintains eligibility

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the Thomas Redhorse Memorial Scholarship, applicants must:

1. Be enrolled or planning to enroll in an accredited college or university
2. Be pursuing a major or minor in journalism, communications, English, or a related field
3. Demonstrate financial need
4. Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
5. Demonstrate leadership potential and community involvement

Application Components

1. Application Form — Complete all required fields
2. Personal Essay (500-750 words) — Describe how a mentor or role model influenced your life and your aspirations
3. Two Letters of Recommendation — From teachers, counselors, or community leaders
4. Official Transcripts — Most recent academic record

Selection Criteria

Applications are evaluated based on:

• Financial Need (30%)
• Academic Achievement (20%)
• Leadership and Community Involvement (20%)
• Quality of Essay (20%)
• Commitment to Journalism (10%)

Timeline

Apply Now

Ready to apply for the Thomas Redhorse Memorial Scholarship? The application is open to students who attended Camp La Junta and those who were inspired by the legacy of Tommy Redhorse—exactly as Matthew Bovee was in 1999.

Request Application

Contact Us

For questions about the scholarship, please contact us. Learn more about Matthew Bovee’s journalism work at matthew-bovee.com.

The Thomas Redhorse Memorial Scholarship is administered through Camp La Junta. All donations support the scholarship fund.