Business Matters

One of Joseph Hartsook’s proudest moments was when he was a sophomore JROTC cadet at McNary High School in Keizer, Oregon, and in charge of organizing more than $300,000 worth of the corps’ equipment for a unit inspection. 

The school’s corps had failed an inspection the year before, and if it failed again, it was in danger of being shut down. “It was a high-stakes moment,” Hartsook said.

During the inspection, Hartsook — McNary’s youngest JROTC cadet ever to take charge of equipment logistics — had to answer timed questions to ensure that the corps’ supplies were in good order. 

He passed. And he earned a compliment that would crystallize his goal of becoming a military officer focused on logistics. 

Oregon State University had everything Hartsook wanted: an excellent supply chain and logistics management program, a strong Air Force ROTC program, and proximity to his family, with whom Hartsook is extremely close. 

“The inspector, an Air Force colonel, told me that I was the best unit manager he had ever seen at a school and even better than many military units,” Hartsook said. “I started out as just an assistant in that position.”

The colonel gave Hartsook new confidence, and a goal to focus on logistics as a path of study when he went to college. 

Oregon State University had everything Hartsook wanted: an excellent supply chain and logistics management program, a strong Air Force ROTC program, and proximity to his family, with whom Hartsook is extremely close. 

The College of Business at Oregon State had another draw: the Business Catalyst Scholars program. Hartsook was invited to apply. 

The program offered Hartsook financial support throughout his college career as well as support services like peer and professional mentoring, financial advice, employment and check-ins, all to help him stay in school and graduate. 

“They saw the list of benefits that go along with the program and told me, ‘you should use as many of these as you can.’” 

“My mom and dad were helping me every step of the way when I was applying,” said Hartsook, who is set to be the first person in his family to graduate from college. “They saw the list of benefits that go along with the program and told me, ‘you should use as many of these as you can.’” 

Hartsook was accepted into the Business Catalyst Scholars Program. Now, as a freshman planning to major in supply chain and logistics management, he’s getting to know his peer and professional mentors as he gets used to being a college student. 

“Both of my mentors want to help me succeed as much as they can,” Hartsook said. “It’s a good chance for me to open up more pathways than I’d expect instead of waiting for opportunities to come up. It makes me more comfortable taking risks when I think about the future.” 

When he was in high school, being willing to ask questions and be receptive to answers from peers and teachers also helped Hartsook discover paths he might not have taken. “They were watching out for me and helped pull me in a direction I would not have gone,” he said. 

It’s in Hartsook’s nature to learn as much as he can and help others with his knowledge. “People started looking up to me and expecting me to give them answers,” he said. “That was quite the experience.” 

As Hartsook grows in his college career and moves toward his goal of becoming an Air Force officer, the College of Business is proud to offer support that can help him get there.