After Rucker and Evans retired, G.I.B.&N.S. saw a period of rapid growth under Hargis and his wife.  Buechler notes that at times enrollment reached 300 with a large faculty, resulting in an economic boom for Grand Island.    Fueling this growth was a newspaper blitz over a six-state area.  Letters above appeared in many small-town newspapers guaranteeing positions upon graduation. These letters noted that many more positions were available than GIB&NC graduates could fill, so that the “cream” of bank and business positions would be available.  Students from the farms and ranches would be admitted without entrance examinations.  Best of all, letters advertised that school costs could be deferred until after graduation when the students were earning paychecks.   

 

Some of these letters claimed an enrollment of 500; other claimed a thousand.

 

While no available newspapers mentioned social events at the college, apparently it had a social life.  One Leschinsky photo is described as a “Rose Drill team” of young ladies who apparently did a “synchronized dance.”  Another image is of a small orchestra—11 males with instruments and one female-- apparently a vocalist.  Another available image shows four young people, alleged G.I.B.&N.C. students, sitting in a peach tree.  Students published a newspaper, The Echo.

 

Ads for G.I.B.&N.C. appeared through 1910. Post reported that it later "operated under the name of Spencer School of    Business."   In 1996 it became a not-for-profit school with the name Grand Island College.  A notice appeared in November 1999 Grand Island Independent that the college would close on December 17, due to declining enrollment.