Redhorse Scholarship: Application Tips from Matthew Bovee

Every year, I receive dozens of applications for the Tommy Redhorse Journalism Scholarship, and I’ll be honest—it’s not easy to choose. We give away this scholarship in memory of Tommy Redhorse, my mentor at Camp La Junta, who taught me that journalism isn’t just about telling stories. It’s about holding power accountable.

If you’re applying, I want you to succeed. Here are my tips for crafting an application that stands out.

Tell Us Your Story—Honestly

The best applications aren’t the most polished. They’re the most genuine. I want to hear YOUR story, not what you think we want to hear. What drew you to journalism? What stories do you feel compelled to tell? What moment made you realize this is what you were meant to do?

Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable. The application essay is where we get to know the person behind the grades and resume. Share a failure that taught you something. Describe a moment of doubt and how you overcame it. These are the stories that matter.

Show Don’t Tell

Journalism is about demonstration, not declaration. Instead of telling us you’re passionate about investigative reporting—show us through a specific example. Maybe it’s a piece you wrote for your school newspaper that exposed something important. Maybe it’s a podcast you produced about a local issue. Maybe it’s the way you approached a difficult interview.

We look for applicants who already understand what it means to be a journalist: getting the facts, verifying sources, and presenting truth even when it’s uncomfortable.

Know Your Why

Why journalism? Why now? Why does this scholarship matter to your future?

These are the questions I come back to when reviewing applications. The candidates who stand out have clearly thought about their path. They can articulate not just what they want to do, but why it matters—to them, to their community, to the broader world.

Tommy Redhorse taught me that journalism is service. It’s about giving voice to those who don’t have one. When you apply, show us that you understand this.

Academic Matters—But It’s Not Everything

Yes, we look at grades. We look at writing samples. We want to see that you can handle the rigor of journalism school. But we’re also looking for promise that can’t be measured by GPA alone.

If your grades aren’t perfect but you have a portfolio of powerful work, apply anyway. If you faced obstacles that affected your academic performance, tell us about them. We’re looking for the whole person, not a transcript.

Get Specific About Your Goals

Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten years? Be specific. Don’t just say “I want to be a journalist.” Say something like “I want to investigate environmental justice issues in rural communities” or “I want to cover politics at the state level and help citizens understand how their government works.”

Specific goals tell us you’re serious. They show you’ve thought about how this scholarship will help you get there.

Proofread. Then Proofread Again.

This should go without saying, but it doesn’t: proofread your application. Multiple times. Have someone else read it. Then read it again out loud.

Errors in your application suggest errors in your journalism. If you can’t spellcheck your own scholarship essay, how will readers trust you to fact-check a breaking news story?

Apply Even If You Think You Won’t Get It

Here’s the truth: I almost didn’t apply for my first journalism scholarship. I thought my chances were slim. I was wrong.

You won’t know unless you try. And even if you don’t receive the scholarship this year, the exercise of writing your application forces you to clarify your goals and tell your story. That’s valuable regardless.

The Tommy Redhorse Legacy

Tommy Redhorse believed in young people. He saw potential that others missed, and he nurtured it with patience and high expectations. That’s what this scholarship is about—not just money, but belief in the next generation of journalists.

If you apply, know that you’re part of something bigger than yourself. You’re joining a legacy of truth-tellers who believe that democracy depends on people willing to ask hard questions and report what they find.

Good luck. I can’t wait to read your story.