CU-Lock Haven alumnus establishes scholarship to support future biology students

 Commonwealth University-Lock Haven 1973 alumnus, Karl Hartsock, VMD, is turning a lifetime of achievement into opportunity for the next generation.

Through the Lock Haven University Foundation (LHUF), Hartsock recently established the Dr. Karl R. Hartsock, VMD Scholarship, a new award designed to support incoming biology students at CU-Lock Haven. Focused on first-year students, the scholarship helps ease the financial burden at a critical transition point, while offering renewable support for those who maintain a 3.0 GPA.

For Dr. Hartsock, the decision to create the scholarship is rooted in both gratitude and lived experience.

"I wouldn't have been able to achieve any of my academic and professional success without scholarships and student loans," Hartsock said. "My parents weren't in a position to help financially, so that support made all the difference."

A first-generation college student from Williamsport and a graduate of Loyalsock Township High School, Hartsock chose Lock Haven State College for its affordability and proximity to home - a practical decision that ultimately became transformative.

Originally intending to become a biology teacher, Hartsock discovered during his student teaching experience that his path lay elsewhere. That realization led him to pursue veterinary medicine.

"To my knowledge, no one from Lock Haven had ever applied to veterinary school before me," he recalled.

When his early acceptance letter from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine arrived, Hartsock felt both excitement and uncertainty.

"I was elated - but also a little scared. I wasn't sure if I was prepared."

He soon realized just how strong his foundation at Lock Haven had been.

Graduating summa cum laude from Lock Haven and later cum laude from Penn, Hartsock went on to build a distinguished 40-year career in veterinary medicine. His work included time in Allentown and South Jersey, several years as an emergency room veterinarian, and ultimately the establishment of his own small animal practice in Browns Mills, New Jersey, where he served his community until retiring in 2017.

"Veterinary medicine was an incredibly rewarding career," Hartsock said. "And it was all possible because of the excellent education I received at Lock Haven. I was very prepared for what came next."

While Hartsock had long included Lock Haven and Penn in his estate plans, he recently made the decision to begin giving now - allowing him to see the impact of his generosity in real time.

"I've been fortunate in my life," he said. "I wanted to start helping students now - to make things a little easier for them."

By supporting incoming biology students - many of whom may be navigating college as first-generation students themselves - Hartsock is not only reducing financial barriers, but also reinforcing the kind of opportunity that defined his own journey.

From a first-generation student taking a chance on an affordable education, to a trailblazer in veterinary medicine, to a donor investing in the future, Hartsock's story reflects the power of The Haven experience - and the lasting impact of giving back.