The founding twelve consisted of athletes and editors, and most were Agriculture majors.

The 1914 La Vie yearbook marked the first appearance of Skull and Bones as a group with a photo of the twelve founding members. This was accomplished in part by promoting class spirit and 'by untiring watchfulness, to forestall and correct any tendency toward a disregard for or violation of college customs and traditions.' Skull and Bones was organized by twelve juniors to distinguish outstanding senior men on campus and to foster the advancement of academic and athletics interests, the perpetuation of honored traditions, and the maintenance of the general spirit of Penn State. Honorary and 'HAT' societies were developed during Sparks' term as a way of recognizing leadership on the part of students in both academic and extracurricular activities. During this time, many fraternities and clubs were started.

Sparks from 1908 to 1920 was marked by the rapid growth of extracurricular activities on campus. The era of Penn State University President Edwin E. It was organized with the purpose of eliminating false pride, excessive self-esteem, and grand ideas of personal glory, and to honor humble service and unselfish leadership. It was one of six such organizations formed in a six-year period, and it had twelve junior men as its original members. In early December of 1912, a new upper-class leadership honorary, 'The Skull and Bones Society,' was organized at the Pennsylvania State University.

Skull and bones hat