Matt Becker and Toby Becker Memorial Scholarship

Matt Becker grew up in Northeast, KS, actively participating in sports and scouting as a youth and an adult leader. From these activities, he developed a strong moral code that he believed was important to instill in our youth today. He was known as an avid K-State fan whose personal achievements included becoming an Eagle Scout and a business owner. Matt was adventurous and loved bringing laughter to any situation through his exuberant storytelling. As a selfless and giving individual who never knew a stranger, he was always on a mission to help others. Matt was an electrician by trade, but his true passion, besides his family, was baseball. The number of individuals he influenced, taught, coached, mentored, loved, and befriended is immeasurable. He enjoyed teaching a love, respect, and appreciation of the game. Lessons learned through baseball help develop skills such as patience, discipline, responsibility, sportsmanship, perseverance, and learning how to face defeat and disappointment and celebrate success with compassion. Matt believed these lessons help youth succeed not only on the field but also in life. Matt developed a strong sense of giving back through his passions, so he was driven to help make the dream of building a new field for Rock Creek baseball a reality. Sadly, he lost his life in a place near and dear to his heart on May 7, 2020, while setting light poles in the outfield, making dreams come true. Our family desires to continue his mission of giving back and helping others.

Toby Becker, son of Becky Becker and the late Matt Becker, grew up in Manhattan, KS, graduating from Rock Creek High School. He was a smart, charismatic, caring, and giving young man known for his piercing blue eyes and charming side smile. His younger brothers looked up to him; he was a dear friend and teammate to many. Playing baseball from a very young age, Toby developed into an outstanding athlete, earning numerous accolades, including being the only player in school history to throw a complete game no-hitter in the state tournament in 2019. Toby pursued baseball at the collegiate level, playing on a baseball scholarship for two years at Truman State University in Kirksville, MO, before returning to Manhattan. As a young adult, Toby became a muscle car enthusiast and pursued interests in online trading, investing, and selling web3 domains. Toby built a nationwide network of friends and acquaintances, deepening his love for travel through his entrepreneurial efforts. In 2015, Toby silently began battling depression and anxiety following trauma no person should have to endure. For two years, Toby fought alone, struggling to find appropriate ways to cope until he courageously shared his story and sought justice. Despite his efforts to heal, Toby died by suicide on December 13, 2022, at the age of 21. With his last words, Toby sought to reassure his family and friends of his love for them and his sorrow that his brokenness was too much to bear. Toby’s part of this scholarship is promoting mental health awareness and encouraging others dealing with mental health concerns to seek help.

Criteria

• Available to a Rock Creek High School graduating senior or a previous graduate of RCHS.
• Available for attendance at any technical or 2- or 4-year accredited school.
• Preference given to students who play baseball or softball, plan to become an electrician, or pursue a career in the mental health field.
• Have a GPA of 2.5 or higher.
• Applicants should submit a one-paragraph statement on “What this scholarship would mean to you”.