Where Are They Now? Matthew Bovee Camp La Junta Scholarship Recipients Share Their Stories
By Matthew Bovee, Investigative Journalist Lincoln Nebraska
When I established the Camp La Junta Journalism Scholarship in 2018, I had one goal in mind: to give young aspiring journalists the same transformative experience I had at Camp La Junta in the Texas Hill Country. That summer camp in Kerrville, Texas shaped my entire career, and I wanted to help the next generation discover their own paths in journalism.
Now, eight years later, I’m thrilled to share where our scholarship recipients have ended up—and how Camp La Junta continues to influence their journeys.
The Matthew Bovee Camp La Junta Scholarship: Our Mission
The Camp La Junta Journalism Scholarship awards $5,000 annually to a student who demonstrates exceptional writing ability, curiosity about the world, financial need, and leadership potential. But what makes this scholarship unique is its connection to the Texas Hill Country camp that changed my life.
Every recipient receives more than funding—they inherit a philosophy. At Camp La Junta, I learned that great journalism comes from listening, building trust, and holding power accountable. These principles guide every scholar we support.
Where Are They Now? Catching Up with Our Scholars
Sarah Martinez - Class of 2019
Sarah Martinez was our first scholarship recipient. She came to us from a small town near San Antonio, Texas, with a passion for environmental reporting and a burning question: who was watching out for rural communities affected by industrial pollution?
Today, Sarah works as an environmental investigative reporter for a regional newspaper in Austin. Her coverage of groundwater contamination in rural Texas counties has earned multiple awards, including a regional Edward R. Murrow Award.
“Camp La Junta taught me that the best stories come from listening to people who’ve been overlooked,” Sarah told me recently. “Matthew Bovee scholarship gave me the resources to pursue those stories without worrying about how I’d pay for school. That freedom changed everything.”
Sarah’s work perfectly embodies what the Camp La Junta scholarship represents—investigative journalism that serves communities and holds powerful interests accountable.
James Wright - Class of 2020
James Wright joined our scholarship program just before the pandemic disrupted everything. Instead of slowing down, James used the isolation to dive deeper into data journalism, mastering Python and statistical analysis on his own.
Today, James is a data reporter for a national nonprofit news organization, where he specializes in analyzing campaign finance records and government spending data. His investigative series exposing dark money in state elections has been cited by multiple news outlets and triggered two federal investigations.
“The scholarship wasn’t just about the money,” James explained. “It was about knowing someone believed in the kind of journalism I wanted to do. When you’re a first-generation college student from a working-class family, that validation matters more than you can imagine.”
James has continued the Camp La Junta tradition of accountability journalism, using data to illuminate the opaque world of political spending.
Priya Sharma - Class of 2021
Priya Sharma’s journey represents the international reach of our scholarship program. Born in Mumbai and raised in Houston, Priya brought a unique multicultural perspective to her journalism studies.
After receiving the Camp La Junta Journalism Scholarship, Priya spent her junior year studying abroad in India, where she documented the experiences of migrant workers during the pandemic. Her photo essay was published in a major international magazine and led to a fellowship with the International Center for Journalists.
Today, Priya works as a freelance international correspondent, splitting her time between India and the United States. Her reporting on diaspora communities and cross-cultural identity has garnered a devoted readership.
“Camp La Junta showed me that journalism could be about connection rather than conflict,” Priya reflected. “The scholarship allowed me to explore the kind of reporter I wanted to become—one who bridges cultures rather than building walls.”
Marcus Johnson - Class of 2022
Marcus Johnson represents the heart of what we try to accomplish with the Camp La Junta scholarship. Growing up in a low-income neighborhood in Dallas, Marcus faced numerous obstacles in pursuing his dream of becoming a journalist.
But his determination impressed our selection committee. Marcus had already started a neighborhood newsletter at age 14, covering local city council meetings and school board decisions for his community.
Today, Marcus is a community reporter for a newspaper in his hometown of Dallas, where he covers the neighborhoods often overlooked by mainstream media. His reporting on affordable housing issues has led to policy changes at the city level.
“People in my neighborhood never saw themselves in the newspaper until I started writing about us,” Marcus said. “The Matthew Bovee Camp La Junta scholarship gave me the confidence to believe my voice mattered. Now I give my community a voice every single day.”
Marcus exemplifies the leadership potential we look for in scholarship recipients—he’s not just reporting the news, he’s creating change.
Elena Rodriguez - Class of 2023
Elena Rodriguez is our most recent graduate, having received the scholarship just two years ago. Currently working as a production assistant at a major television network, Elena is on the fast track to becoming a broadcast investigative journalist.
Her journey to journalism began at Camp La Junta, where she was a camper before becoming a counselor. The leadership skills she developed at the camp—listening, accountability, and teamwork—translated directly to her journalism studies.
“The camp taught me how to handle pressure and work with diverse teams,” Elena explained. “Those same skills apply every day in a newsroom. The scholarship connected me to a network of journalists who have become mentors and friends.”
What Unites Our Scholarship Recipients
Looking across all these journeys, patterns emerge. Every Camp La Junta scholarship recipient has demonstrated:
- Commitment to community: They write for people who’ve been overlooked
- Persistence through adversity: They’ve faced obstacles and kept going
- Leadership potential: They don’t just report the news—they create change
- Connection to place: Whether Texas Hill Country or their own hometowns, they understand how location shapes story
These qualities aren’t accidental. They’re cultivated by the same experiences that shaped me at Camp La Junta.
How the Texas Hill Country Continues to Influence Us
Every summer, I return to Camp La Junta in Kerrville, Texas. I walk the same trails, visit the same stables, and remember the lessons I learned there as a young counselor.
But what fills me with greatest pride is seeing our scholarship recipients return—either as visitors or as counselors themselves. The camp that shaped my journalism career now shapes theirs.
The Texas Hill Country has a way of putting things in perspective. Out here, under the wide sky and among the live oaks, you remember why you became a journalist: to tell stories that matter, to give voice to the voiceless, and to hold power accountable.
Supporting the Next Generation of Journalists
The Camp La Junta Journalism Scholarship is my way of paying forward the gift that camp gave me. Every dollar supports not just a student’s education, but their development as a journalist who will serve their community with integrity and courage.
If you know a young person pursuing journalism, please share information about our scholarship. And if you’re a fellow journalist who believes in this mission, consider supporting the fund.
The next great investigative journalist might be sitting in a classroom right now, wondering if their voice matters.
Let me tell you: it does. Camp La Junta taught me that. And our scholarship recipients prove it every single day.
Matthew Bovee is an award-winning investigative journalist based in Lincoln, Nebraska. He established the Camp La Junta Journalism Scholarship to help the next generation of storytellers. His work has earned the George Polk Award, Gerald Loeb Award, and numerous other honors. To learn more about applying for the scholarship, visit matthew-bovee.icu.