More about Sparks College

SPARKS COLLEGE

Sparks College is located in Shelbyville, Illinois, a community of approximately 5000 people. Shelbyville is the county seat for Shelby County, Illinois. It is the location of the Circuit Court, offering a practical in-trial experience for court reporting students.

Shelbyville is centrally located to Decatur, Mattoon/Charleston, Centralia/Mt. Vernon, and equidistant from Indianapolis, St. Louis and Chicago. Because of its location Sparks College is able to offer many employment opportunities for our graduates.

Enrollment is maintained under 100 students. Our small enrollment means greater personal awareness of each student and his or her needs by our professional staff. Teachers and administrators know each student personally and care about each student's academic success and job future.

Mission Statement

The mission of Sparks College is to enroll and educate students for placement in careers in Court Reporting, Scopist, General/Legal/Medical Secretarial, Accounting, Information Processing and Medical Transcription. This mission is achieved by offering programs evaluated by our advisory boards to ensure students are receiving the necessary training and skills to compete in today's job market.

By hiring certified and fully trained professionals in the field we are able to present appropriate programs in each curriculum.

History of Sparks College

In 1908, while serving as principal of the Madison, Indiana, High School, Henry D. Sparks dreamed of the establishment and promotion of an institiution of learning that, while it would be private and personal, would serve future generations. He had in mind a school of training for young men and women for better positions and brighter futures in business.

Mr. Sparks saw Shelbyville, Illinois, for the first time on June 11, 1908, and decided this would be the location for his business training school. On September 7, 1908, Shelby Business College opened with 13 students enrolled. The school was then located on the third floor of a local business. In the fall of 1913 the name of the school was changed to Sparks Business College. Later the word "Business" was dropped, not because it isn't a business college, but because the work done in the school is as high grade as the 4-year college work in the same subjects. In 1914, at the suggestion of the Chamber of Commerce, construction of the Sparks College building began.The school moved into its new location on May 15, 1915, and is located there today.

Henry Sparks continued as the school's president until his retirement in 1958. His son, Roger Sparks, took up his mantle until his retirement in the 1980's. Today Sparks College is overseen by local business people serving as its Board of Directors.

Who Attends Sparks College?

Students are either high school or college graduates or have passed the GED requirements who wish to obtain professional training in the fields offered by the school. Many students return after being out of school for several years in order to advance in the business world.