Sparks College - Yearbook (Shelbyville, IL)

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First Commencement Coming up to the end of the first year with the idea of high-school commencement in mind, Mr. arks thought it would be wise to have a baccalaureate sermon preached, and to hold commencement exercises. The first baccalaureate sermon was preached by the Presbyterian Minister, Reverend John A. Tracy. The members of this first graduating class were. Bookkeeping: Mr. Raymond Kingston, Mr. Benjamin M. Parish, Mr. Harry Pauschert, Mr. Harmon L. Ruff, Mr. Clair I. Storm, and Mr. Leslie R. Tallman; Shorthand: Mr. George A. Bowman, Miss EvaE. Fought, Miss Alta Harriette Jenkins, Miss Edna Marguerite South, Miss Grace Eleanor Thorn, and Miss Martha E. Ulmer. The commencement exercises were held in the Methodist Church. ssar UPPER ROW: A. J. Steidley, Benjamin M. Parish, Martha E. Ulmer, Mae Lewis, Harry Pauschert, Clair I. Storm, Grace Thom, Eva E. Fought, H. D. Sparks. LOWER ROW: Marguerite South, Harmon L. Ruff, Alta Jenkins, George Bowman, Raymond Kingston.

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Courses of Study The following seven tried, tested, result- getting, diploma courses of study are offered with the assurance that they are practical, modern, thorough. They conform to the highest standards of business-training procedure - no frills - just essentials. All diploma courses are college level, and are taught by college- trained instructors. Full credit is given for previous training in commercial work. The time required to finish a course is estimated. Students are urged to complete the courses as rapidly as possible, consistent with doing the work right. Stenographic Course The Stenographic Course qualifies grad- uates to take dictation at 150 words a minute and t T3e vrite at 60 words a minute. The course provides good background in related business subjects, such as English, spelling, punctu- ation, filing, office procedure, and machines. The student may take either Gregg Short- hand or the Stenograph. Time r equired - 10 months Secretarial Course This course contains all of the work in the Stenographic Course, plus secretarial accounting and special work in secretarial practice. Time required - 12 months Executive Secretarial Course This course is designed for those students who wish to qualify for the more demanding secretarial positions which require higher skills and more detailed information in prep- aration for work with top executives, and for promotion into the administrative field. Time required - 20 months Junior Accounting Course This course offers a general knowledge of accounting. Students obtain a general knowl- edge of business procedure. Laboratory work in accounting as taught in this course gives the students the practical side of accounting. They are experienced. Arithmetic, English, spelling, and commercial law make the course complete. Time required - 10 months Higher Accounting Course This course is a development of the Jun ior Accounting Course. Additional higher accounting, auditing, and income-tax account- ing, as well as business organization and management, help make this course strong and worth while. This course offers thorough training in accounting and business procedure. Time required - 20 months General Business Training Course The General Business Training Course embodies both the Junior Accounting Course and the Stenographic Course. The knowledge of both of these courses enables the graduate to be very versatile in handling the business affairs of the office. This often means better employment and a better future. Time required - 18 months Reporting Course This course is the extension of the Steno- graphic in the development of the ability to take dictation at 200 words a minute and write 75 words a minute on the typewriter. Special dictation applicable to court and convention work is given. Special Work - Non-diploma Civil Service Comptometer Business Machines Filing Special Subjects Plan of Instruction This school takes into consideration the success of the individual student, rather than the promotion of any particular plan or system of education. Where a group may be instructed in class to good advantage, this is done. Individual instruction is given whenever nec- essary. In some cases, the lecture method is used. Laboratory work is an important part of the instruction.

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Ne v Name for School In the fall of 1913, Mr. Sparks met with several people who asked him whether this school was one of a chain of schools then in existence in this part of the country. He said, No. He decided he was paying for someone else ' s advertising, and came back and put the matter up to the school. They changed the name of the school from Shelby Business College to Sparks Business College. Later on the word Business was dropped out, not because it isn ' t a business college, but because the work done in the school is as high grade as the four-year-college work in the same subjects. School Building Built Along toward the end of the sixth year, the Chamber of Commerce suggested that the school should have a home of its own. There was a big hole in the ground back of the Syndicate Building. The lots and parts of lots in this hole were owned by a woman who had a conservator. A group of forward-looking friendly people in Shelbyville bought the lots with the idea of some day erecting a building for the school. A building committee was comprised of Mr. William Beem, Mr. Charles H. Beetle, Mr. C. E. Bolinger, Mr. Ed N. Herron, Mr. W. J. fUchardson, and Mr. George B. Rhoads, Mr. H. L. Ruff, who was a teacher in the school, acted as secretary for this board. Of the men on the board, only one is now living, Mr. C. E. Bolinger, who lives in Los Angeles, California. These men raised about $11,000 , for which donors were given interest-bearing Building Certificates. The school taught out a good many of these certificates. All of the others were canceled, and the property deeded to Mr. Sparks. Right here the president of this school wants to acknowledge humbly his great thankfulness to these wise, far-seeing men who built even better than they knew. Thanks to all who helped in any way. MR. C. E. BOLINGER !«,ji Hill rin Ri ntn % jii ' ' ' 1 11 a |!m kn i 4a£ ' W u V ■ t» w ' it ' 1 M g bnm 5i w vi ' Vflr I —r On the fifteenth day of May, 1915, Sparks College moved into the present quarters. When this building was built, it had one of the best gymnasiums in this part of the country. In fact, several high school tournaments were played in it. The accompanying photograph was taken during the final game of one of these tournaments, Mr. C. P. Lantz of Charleston Teachers College, officiating.