“Take care of our kids . . .”
The Blackhorse Association and its Scholarship Program were born from a promise made by then-Colonel George S. Patton to a wounded L Troop trooper on March 20, 1969, on a battlefield in Vietnam. The pledge to “not let people forget us” and to “take care of our kids” became the driving force behind the formation of the Blackhorse Association later that year at Fort Knox, KY.
Today, the Blackhorse Association continues to uphold this promise by providing named scholarships to support the children of Blackhorse Troopers. With each $4,000 annual scholarship, we stay true to our founding purpose: to “take care of our kids.” We are excited by the program’s growth and potential.
We invite anyone interested in sponsoring an annual scholarship to reach out to our Assistant Scholarship Director Murphy Gagne at cbear7806@gmail.com.
Scholarship Recipients for 2025 – 2026
The Blackhorse Association is proud to announce the recipients of our 2025–2026 scholarships. These highly qualified students are recipients of named Blackhorse Association scholarships and Blackhorse Association scholarships. Congratulations to these students in the upcoming college year!
Patton Scholarship: Caroline Nix
BG “Doc” Bahnsen: Ethan Owings
BG John Sherman Crow: Olivia Harrel
CSM Robert McCord: Kenyon Johnson
Snodgrass Ironhorse Commanders: Everett Mack
Workhorse: Katelyn O’Brien
OIF Remembrance: Nicholas Mahoney
Cold Steel: Anya Dobos
CSM John Stevens: Erin McFarland
Rondo and Lorraine Jackson: Liezel LaBounty
The following also received scholarships (listed in alphabetical order)
Attica Siebert
Gabriel Sorensen
Jakoby Sorensen
Spouse Scholarship: Paloma Dickman
A special thank you to our Scholarship Committee for their dedication and hard work in evaluating our candidates. We are also deeply grateful to all of you for your ongoing support of this vital program. These scholarships make a real difference, and to keep them thriving, we rely on your continued generosity.
Prefer to donate by mail?
Send a check payable to The Blackhorse Association, marked “Scholarship Donation,” to the following address:
Treasurer: The Blackhorse Association
Daniel M. Caughey, CPA
PO Box 1712
Mill Valley, CA 94942
Do you know of a child of the Regiment that could benefit from a Blackhorse Association Scholarship?
Click here to download a Scholarship Application. It must be completed and mailed to the Scholarship Chairman by 1 April each year. Incomplete applications will be rejected. TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION, CLICK HERE to download and read tips from the grading committee.
Are you the spouse of an 11th ACR Active Duty Soldier?
Our vision includes active support to the Troopers in the Regiment. In 2020, opened up a limited opportunity for Spouses of 11th ACR Active Duty Soldiers to apply for either a full-time or part-time scholarship. The scholarship is intended to support them as they continue their education while their Soldier serves training America’s Army at the National Training Center. If you are a spouse and would like to apply, download the Spouse Scholarship Application from this link.
Notice: All applications must be postmarked by April 1 each year for consideration.
About Blackhorse Scholarships
The Scholarship Fund has long supported the education of the children of Blackhorse Troopers who were killed or wounded in action. It has since expanded to include all children of the Blackhorse. We remain steadfast in honoring the promise made in Vietnam, fulfilling this noble mission with your continued support.
Details on eligibility criteria, as outlined in the Blackhorse Association Bylaws, are provided below:
Article XII: Scholarships
Section 1. This article outlines policies and procedures governing The Blackhorse Association Scholarship Program.
Section 2. The purpose of this program is to afford children of present or former members of the Regiment scholarship opportunities each year.
Section 3. Blackhorse Association Scholarship Program
A candidate must be a child or step-child of a present or former member of the Regiment.
The first selection priority will be given to children who lost a parent in service of the Regiment.
The second selection priority will be given to children of those incapacitated by wounds or injury while serving the Regiment.
The third selection priority will be given based on financial need of the applicant as expressed in the narrative portion of the application.
The recipient must use the scholarship by their 30th birthday. The candidate must be a graduating high school senior or enrolled in an accredited college or university at the undergraduate level or an accredited Jr. College/Technical or Trade College/School. The scholarship is a one year $4000 scholarship paid at the beginning of the Fall Semester each year. A student may apply each year for a total of four years so long as the scholarship pay-out is made by the students 30th birthday. No more than $12,000 may be awarded any one student over the course of four years.
After the award each year, the educational institution must advise the Chairperson of the Scholarship Committee that the recipient is enrolled as a full time student and provide the Chairperson with the remittance address for scholarship payment.
If, by December 1 each year, the institution fails to notify the chairperson of successful registration, the scholarship is voided and all funds committed will be returned to uncommitted status.
Interruption of studies due to sickness or severe hardship may be basis for maintaining the unused portion in a committed status. Cases of this nature will be reviewed by the committee as needed and presented to the BHA Board for final decision.
All scholarship funds with accumulated interest remain the sole resources of the Scholarship Fund until disbursed. All scholarship disbursements will made to the educational institution after being advised of the recipients enrollment in good standing as a full time student and a remittance address for scholarship payment.
Section 4. Application: BHA Scholarship requests will be prepared by the scholarship applicant with Parent/Guardian verification and sent to the Chairperson by regular mail or email. In applying for the BHA scholarship offerings, the quality, accuracy and completeness of preparation of the application is an important factor in the selection process.
Section 5. Selection and Award: The Scholarship Committee shall select the scholarship recipients from all qualified applicants and present their selections to the BHA Board for approval. When possible, announcement of winners will be made at or before the annual Blackhorse Family Reunion.
Get more info
For more information on scholarship opportunities, please contact:
Murphy Gagne
The Blackhorse Association
5521 Keltonburg Rd.
Smithville, TN 37166
E-Mail: cbear7806@gmail.com
Phone: 615-597-9603