Portrait of a donor
A lifelong accountant and mentor, Joe Becht Jr. reflects on how a family legacy—and a scholarship in his name—continues to change students’ lives.
By Susie Burtch
In December 2017, Joseph E. Becht Jr. endowed a scholarship for deserving VCU School of Business undergraduates that has been aiding students ever since. In 2025—as he can finally take the time to play golf weekly—he reflects on this gift and all it has meant.
Donor as faithful son
Becht’s father, the late Air Force Lt. Col. Joseph Becht, Sr., never went to college himself, but he sent all seven of his children. All but one finished.
“College isn’t for everyone,” says Becht, “but it’s what Dad said would help. It’s the great equalizer in American society. I want to pass that on. I want to create a lasting legacy to my parents. That’s kind of how I was brought up—you carry on the good things your parents did.”
Donor as astute accountant
Becht’s undergraduate degree (from Mount St. Mary’s College in Maryland) is in business and finance. His VCU M.B.A. is in business administration.
After more than 30 years with Deloitte and Ernst & Young, he knows his way around money.
“There was a matching gifts program at both of my companies, up to $10,000 a year,” he remembers. “That helped inspire me to maximize the gift and start the scholarship.”
Now his living trust endowment will continue to fund scholarships into the future.
Donor as experienced mentor
As a member of the VCU School of Business Alumni Board, Becht was instrumental in creating a mentoring program in the late 1990s.
Starting with 8 to 10 students, Ram to Ram has since grown to several hundred. This program, in turn, was the impetus for the expansion of the Office of Student Engagement.
“One of my most fun situations,” Becht recalls, “was mentoring the co-captain of the VCU women’s basketball team. Being a student-athlete is hard, but being a student-athlete going for an accounting degree is really tough. After playing professional women’s basketball for several years, she returned to VCU to earn her master’s degree in sport leadership. And she’s gone on to do great things! She worked for the NCAA and several other universities.”
Donor as satisfied benefactor
Becht appreciates the cards and letters he receives regularly.
“I keep up with my students,” he says with a smile. “Giving scholarships really helps you personally. I am fortunate that I am able to give to help those not quite as fortunate as me. And when I get a phone call from a student, it makes me feel proud and happy with what I’m doing. All I ask in return is that they carry it forward.”
Explore current scholarships through the VCU Scholarship Hub, or reach out to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships for more information at [email protected].
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