Rocky Mountain College - Yellowstone / Poly Yearbook (Billings, MT)

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+ Q XX 0-5 I. D. O'DONNE.LL

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,lflchirutiuir With a spirit of helpfulness and liberality he has won his way into the hearts of the people of the Northwestg his good Works have been justly rewarded by his country which has honored him with one of the most im- portant positions Within the gift of the nationg from the inception of the Polytechnic he has been its staunch friend, loyal supporter and Wise counselor. The Annual Board takes pleasure in dedi- cating this volume to the President of, the Board of Trustees, Hon. I. D. O'Donnell.

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Development 0 the Polytechnic Nine years ago the Polytechnic was only an idea. There were no buildings, 110 campus and no money to secure these things. There was in the minds of a few people a knowledge of a pressing need and a vision of an institution that would supply this need. A region larger than the combined area of New England, New York and Pennsylvania was with- out a single institution of higher learning: a great territory larger than the entire German Empire and far richer in undeveloped resources offer- ed its tens of thousands of splendid boys a11d girls no opportunity of an adequate training for life. The plans of a great practical school were formulated and presented to those who might be interested. Hon. John D. Losekamp was discover- ed and he threw his generous heart into the project of making the vision a reality and many other public spirited men of Billings joined him. James J. Hill, the great empire builder, gave 325,000 for the land upon which the school was to be built. So the Polytechnic had its beginning. The first buildings consisted of a permanent recitation building and four temporary dormitories, one of which served as a dining room and kitchen. One hundred students could be accommodated at the beginning. The growth of the institution has been a marvel. During the past eight years over two thousand people have contributed to the development of the institution. Four splendid permanent buildings have been erected and three more will be constructed this year. And what is this unique institution? lt has become known through- out the country as The School with the Open Door. Here any boy or girl can enter with money or without moneyg with previous training or without previous training. These things make no difference if one has the determination to be educated. The following courses of training are offered: Practical Agriculture, Elementary Engineering, Commerce, Teachers' Training, Academic, College, Shorthand, Manual Training, Domestic Science, Music and Vocational Training. The classes are so arranged and various special studies are offered to encourage those who can spend but a few months each year in school. If a boy has but three months in which he can be spared from the farm he will find here the opportunity of taking the common branches, practi- cal Carpentry, Automobiling, Steam and Gas Engineering, Practical Business or Agriculture. A girl under similar conditions can Hnd a use- ful training here that will mean much to her in life. The Polytechnic has made a most rapid growth but its development during the next few years is sure to be much faster than in the past. This year will see upwards of 95100,000 spent in new improvements the most notable of which will be the Conservatory of Music to cost ?'p50,000, the gift of Hon. John D. Losekampg the Y. M. C. A. dormitory and social centerg and the Gymnasium and Armory. These three new buildings will make the Institute the best equipped school of the entire Northwest. The success of the Polytechnic idea encourages its friends to believe that it is destined to be the leading institution of learning in the North- west. If it continues its present rate of growth it will have an enroll- ment of one thousand students within five years time. Leading educa- tors in all parts of the country are interested in the demonstration it is making in practical education and they are united in the belief that it has a most wonderful future before it. It not only has its own great work to perform for this region but it is to act as a guiding star for hun- dreds of other institutions seeking what is best in education.